..::Football IV::..

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Isco signs new Real Madrid contract


Real Madrid have announced that Isco has signed a new five-year contract, keeping him at the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2022.The 25-year-old is set to earn €6 million per season and has a staggering €700m release clause, according to reports in Spain.

A number of teams, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich, were linked with a move for the Spain international as he entered the final year of his deal.However, an impressive run of form in the first team towards the end of 2016-17 saw the playmaker cement his place in the plans of head coach Zinedine Zidane and earn a renewal.

Isco has been an ever present in Madrid's team this season, playing in all three Liga games and their 3-0 win over APOEL in the Champions League on Wednesday.

He has also been in fine form for Spain, scoring three goals in recent wins over Italy and Liechtenstein.

The 25-year-old, who has won 10 major trophies in four years since joining Madrid from Malaga in 20-13, is set to address the media at the Santiago Bernabeu on Friday.

 

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Pochettino: Kane saved me from the sack in 2014


Mauricio Pochettino believes a certain goal in Harry Kane's first century of strikes for Tottenham was responsible for saving him from the sack.

Frank de Boer was this week fired by Crystal Palace after four games in charge, and recalling just the 10th league game of Pochettino's Spurs reign prompted the revelation.

With Spurs having picked up just 11 points from their first nine games under the former Southampton boss in 2014, Kane – playing second fiddle to Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor at the time, struck a deflected free-kick winner in the 90th minute of a 2-1 triumph at Aston Villa.

Neither player or club have since looked back. Kane has won the Premier League Golden Boot two seasons in a row, while Pochettino has guided Spurs to consecutive top-three finishes.

"Maybe I can find many other goals that were fantastic but for me the goals are related to emotion, in the period you are living," Pochettino said."For me that goal was an amazing goal because it meant for us, for everyone, the possibility to stay here today.

"It's true, the team were 14th or 13th and we were a little bit under pressure because the team were there and play well, but not win games. "Always in football, when you don't get good results, the first to be sacked is the manager. That is why that goal allowed us to carry on working and try to change the club."

Kane reached 100 Tottenham goals against Everton last weekend, following up that two-goal show with another brace against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday and Pochettino revealed how he now holds the striker as an example for the rest of his players to follow.

"Players must show hunger and never lose their hunger," Pochettino said. "We have a lot of good examples: Cristiano Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi, or players like Harry Kane, who is 23.

"I showed the team the first goal that he scored against Borussia Dortmund, how he fought with two defensive players and then how he scored. It is our responsibility to inspire them not to lose their hunger."

 

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Mourinho doubts Lukaku's chances of breaking Rooney's Man Utd record


Jose Mourinho doubts that £75 million signing Romelu Lukaku will challenge Wayne Rooney’s record goal haul at Manchester United.An iconic figure departed Old Trafford over the summer with 253 efforts to his name.

Lukaku has made a positive start towards chasing down that target, with six goals netted in as many games after moving in the opposite direction to Rooney from Everton.

While the 24-year-old’s opening bodes well, Mourinho believes the ever-rising standards in the Premier League will make it impossible for his big-money striker to match the efforts of his predecessor.

“I think Wayne spent probably 10 years of his career in a different Premier League than you have now, a Premier League where it was easier to score goals,” the United boss told reporters ahead of a reunion with Rooney on Sunday.

“Not just because of the difference between the top teams and others, but also because of the profile and the tactical interpretation of the competition. I think this Premier League is much more defensive-minded, and much more difficult.”While any talk of records remains a long way off for now, Lukaku’s contribution will be crucial to United’s cause in the present.

Mourinho believes he has been given a better supporting act than that offered to Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season, with the Red Devils having made a bright opening to their 2017-18 campaign as they look to challenge for Premier League and Champions League honours.

The Portuguese coach added: “It’s not just about the striker.“A striker is very important but last season we had a very good striker [Zlatan Ibrahimovic] for two thirds of the season and that was not enough to win the title. So it’s not just the striker.

“I think that Romelu has a better team than Zlatan had. Romelu’s team plays different football and the confidence levels are different and it is a team in the second year of its evolution in some aspects. “But I think he also deserves credit for that because of the way he plays, the way he is committed, what he does with and without the ball, not just the last touch and the goal but his overall contribution. We couldn’t be happier.”

United’s home date with Everton is the last match to be played in the latest round of Premier League fixtures, but they can still end the weekend in top spot with a convincing victory over Rooney and the visiting Toffees.

 

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Manchester City ruthlessness reminds Guardiola of great Barcelona vintage


Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are beginning to remind him of his great Barcelona side after a dominant week domestically and abroad.City demolished 10-man Liverpool 5-0 last Saturday and followed that up with a first away win in main-draw European action under the Catalan by thumping Feyenoord 4-0.

Guardiola won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice in a glittering four years as coach at Camp Nou, while putting together a side revered as one of club football's finest.

With a well-slicked City attack featuring Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus supported by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva, Guardiola believes he could be on the brink of another era-defining run, with a Premier League trip to Watford on Saturday their next examination.

Asked if City's vintage reminded him of his great Barca side, he replied: "Of course, what we have done against Feyenoord is what I liked and tried to do at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"But sometimes I wasn't able to do it, even at Barcelona and in Munich, to keep the ball high and press. To control the counter-attacks and be there and after they have three passes, we have the ball.

"That is always the target and why I came here. But that is a process and with City, I feel now, they have good players that become a big team. "[Saturday], for example, is a big test for us. The big clubs win the games and that is the big difference to the big teams.

"In this situation, the teams I left at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the other big teams, like [Real] Madrid, and Juventus of Turin, in this kind of situation, a game every three days, they are there, they make a professional performance, score a goal in the right moment and win the game. That is the process we have to discover."When we are able to do that, then I will feel we have made a step forward to become a better team.

"Of course, when you have time to prepare, you can compete everywhere. Last season, we could compete in the games against the top six, but we were not able to win. That is the gap we have to achieve this season."Guardiola suggested the biggest barrier between City and greatness is mental strength, but the recent ruthlessness they have showed is a pleasing factor.

"I think every player believes, but sometimes in a bad situation or moment we were not able to overcome the situation," he said. "You have to do that. You have to have a strong mentality so when you see the players they have the personality to play on the big stages.

"That is what I want to feel. Of course, we can lose, but from the beginning against Liverpool and Feyenoord, from the first minute, we showed the supporters that we wanted to play and win this game. That's what I want to see."

 

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Morata wants to 'become one of the best', says Chelsea boss Conte


Antonio Conte has been impressed by Alvaro Morata’s start at Chelsea, but thinks he will improve further with age as he aims to become one of the best in the world
The Blues signed the 24-year-old from Real Madrid for £60 million during the summer transfer window to replace AWOL striker Diego Costa, who remains away from England as he seeks a move to Atletico Madrid.Morata has scored three goals and provided two assists in his first three starts for Chelsea, and Conte has revealed that the Spain international is setting lofty targets for the future.

“Morata is a really good striker, don’t forget Alvaro is very young,” Conte told reporters at Cobham Training Centre. “I think he can improve a lot. Despite being a young player, he has played with Real Madrid and Juventus, in his career he won a lot.

“I think he has great experience, great international experience. We are happy to have him in our team. We are trying to work very hard with him, to adapt himself in our style of football, our idea. For me the striker is very important, very important, but he is a good guy and he wants to improve a lot, he wants to become one of the best.”

Davide Zappacosta joined Morata in signing for Chelsea over the summer, with a £23 million deal bringing him to Stamford Bridge from Torino on transfer deadline day.Conte brought in his fellow Italian to add depth in the wing-back positions, and he has already made an impact in the Premier League off the bench against Leicester.He followed up that display by scoring a freak goal in an impressive performance against Qarabag, as he made his first start for the Blues in Champions League competition.The speed in which Zappacosta has settled has been praised by Conte, as he competes for a regular starting berth with Victor Moses.

“I think he scored an amazing goal, the guy was very honest to tell that he tried to cross, but during the game he had other chances to score. Don’t forget against Leicester, he was very close to scoring another goal.

“I think this is positive, he is a really good guy. Davide knew very well my idea of football, for this reason he was ready to start the game against Qarabag. He’s in a good physical condition. I am pleased for his performance.

“But now he has to continue to improve himself, to adapt himself in this league.Don’t forget this league is not simple. It was positive. When you start your experience, for him also it was the first appearance in the Champions League.“Also to score the goal you must be happy. Also improve your confidence. I think all positive things about his performance against Qarabag.”

Morata is expected to be recalled to the team as Chelsea face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but Zappacosta will likely remain on the bench.

Conte arrived at his press conference on Friday with a sickness bug. He was in the early stages of losing his voice but he is hoping a dose of antibiotics can help him to recover enough to continue barking out his instructions on the touchline.“I hope to solve this situation, from yesterday [when I got sick], I took antibiotics,” Conte added. “I also took them today and I will tomorrow, I hope to solve the situation, otherwise… it will be a problem for me.

“In this case, I think the air conditioner was stronger than my sweets. I hope to recover! [so I can continue to shout]. In my office when I arrive I turn off the air conditioning. But when I stay on the bus, I risk a lot, because I suffer with air conditioning.”

 

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Rooney urged by Giggs to celebrate if he scores on Man Utd return


Wayne Rooney should celebrate if he marks his return to Old Trafford with a goal for Everton against Manchester United, says Ryan Giggs.

The 31-year-old forward knows all about finding the target at the Theatre of Dreams having spent 13 years with the Red Devils – in which time he became the club’s record goalscorer.He will be back in familiar surroundings on Sunday when he takes in a Premier League encounter with the Toffees.

Rooney will be determined to mark the occasion by silencing the home support, and Giggs believes he should embrace the moment if he is able to hit the back of the net.

The United legend told Sky Sports News: "If you score a goal, you hear players talk about, you sort of lose yourself and I don't think we should get away from that.

"Show respect, don't go over the top, but if you score a goal then celebrate. I think fans recognise that."Knowing Wayne, I'm sure he'll be nervous, but relishing the chance as well and he'll want to score because that's his job."

While Rooney will be determined to cut United down to size once the action gets underway, Giggs is confident that a former fan favourite will be given a warm reception by the Old Trafford faithful prior to kick-off.

He added on a man who left the club over the summer with 253 goals to his name: "He'll get a great reception from the United fans because he was such a great player for United in such a successful era as well."I'm sure he'll be looking forward to it and the United fans will be looking forward to seeing how he does as well, hoping he doesn't score and Wayne the opposite, hoping he does score.”

Rooney has netted on two occasions since returning to his roots at Everton and could do with providing some inspiration for Ronald Koeman’s side this weekend as they are currently on a five-game winless run in all competitions.

 

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Lukaku's joined Man Utd at the right moment - Mourinho


Romelu Lukaku joined Manchester United at the "right moment", according to Jose Mourinho.

The Belgium international has made a flying start to his Old Trafford career, scoring six times in his first six appearances in all competitions, and, on Sunday, comes up against former club Everton following his £75million switch from Goodison Park in July.

Having emerged at Anderlecht before spells with Chelsea, West Brom and the Toffees, Mourinho now believes Lukaku is at the perfect club to further his career.

He said: "Especially for a striker it's important how many goals you score but I don't put any pressure on a player over that. He is playing well, there is a good relationship between the way our striker and the way the team plays.

"I think he comes [to United] in the right moment, [he is] a good age, a good number of years of experience in different clubs in the Premier League and clearly a player adapted to the Premier League with good friends already in this dressing room.

"[He has made] an easy interaction into our group and the way the team tries to play has a good relationship with his qualities as a player, he came at the right moment in his career."

While Lukaku joined United from Everton in the close season, another player made the opposite journey with former England captain Wayne Rooney set to make his first appearance back at Old Trafford after rejoining his hometown club.
Rooney claimed five Premier League titles and each of the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup once in a 13-year stint at United and Mourinho, who described the 31-year-old as a "real legend", expects him to receive a warm welcome from the home crowd.He said: "I think he will get the welcome he deserves.

"I think sometimes the word legend in this country comes too easy, that's not the case with him, he's a real legend - the number of goals, trophies, he's clearly one of the most important players in Manchester United's history and I think the stadium will show him the respect he deserves, I hope before the match and after the match, not during the match."

 

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Anderlecht director opens door to Man Utd move for Dendoncker


Anderlecht sporting director Herman Van Holden says the club are working with Manchester United target Leander Dendoncker to help him secure a big move away in the future.

The 22-year-old reportedly caught the eye of both the Red Devils and Everton after helping his side win the Belgian top flight while also reaching the Europa League quarter-finals last season.

Van Holden has revealed that Dendoncker was disappointed at not securing a move away in the summer, with his early-season form suffering as a result.However, the Anderlecht chief has opened the door to a move in the future by revealing the club will do all they can to help him secure his dream switch.

“Dendoncker’s head was elsewhere,” he told Sport/Foot. “He showed his disappointment during training at not being transferred. His mate Youri Tielemans went to Monaco and he was training with the national team, and he wanted, like them, to play in the biggest leagues.

Certain people in his entourage put pressure on me, on the club or on his agent, Christophe Henrotay. Today, we’re prepared to pay him based on his status of key player and to work on his future transfer like we did for Youri. In fact, we all have an interest in working together.”Dendoncker will aim to catch the eye in this year's Champions League, although his Anderlecht side got off to a bad start as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands over Bayern Munich in Germany.

Their next match in Europe's premier club competition is a home fixture against Celtic on September 27.

 

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Benzema not interested in leaving 'best club in the world' Real Madrid


Karim Benzema has no interest in leaving Real Madrid because he considers Los Blancos to be "the best club in the world".The French striker is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and is not expected to return before October, yet he does not believe there to be any threat to his place in the Zinedine Zidane's starting line-up.

Madrid allowed Alvaro Morata to depart for Chelsea during the transfer window, leaving them particularly thin in the central attacking role, meaning even less competition for Benzema.

And the 29-year-old is confident he will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for the foreseeable future.

"It is the best club in the world," he told BeIn Sport France . "It is a pleasure and makes me proud."The expectations are very big and every season you start from scratch. You have to work to keep yourself at the highest level.

"If you are a starter here, you do not need to go elsewhere. I think we are in one of the best stages of Real Madrid's history."The team is very strong, it's not just a matter of those who are usually the starters; the substitutes also make a difference."

Benzema also spoke about Neymar's world-record €222million switch from Madrid's bitter rivals Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, calling the Brazilian's decision "strange".

He added: "I will not say I was surprised, because he does what he wants, although it seemed strange. He will have his reasons, no doubt."

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.09.16

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.09.16

Crystal Palace Vs Southampton

Huddersfield Vs Leicester

Liverpool Vs Burnley

Newcastle Vs Stoke

Watford Vs Manchester City

WBA Vs West Ham

Tottenham Vs Swansea

​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2017.09.16

LA Liga Fixtures 2017.09.16

Levante Vs Valencia

Getafe Vs Barcelona

Real Betis Vs Deportivo

Atletico Madrid Vs Malaga​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2017.09.16

Serie A Fixtures 2017.09.16

Crotone Vs Inter'

Fiorentina Vs Bologna

Roma Vs Verona​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.09.16

Bundesliga Fixtures 2017.09.16

Bayern Vs Mainz

Frankfurt Vs Augsburg

Stuttgart Vs Wolfsburg

Werder Bremen Vs Schalke

Leipzig Vs Monchengladbach​

 

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Monaco 3 Strasbourg 0: Falcao bags brace as Jardim's men bounce back



Monaco picked up their first win in three games as Radamel Falcao scored twice in a 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg.

Leonardo Jardim's men were beaten 4-0 at Nice in their previous league outing and were held to a 1-1 draw by RB Leipzig in the Champions League, but a return to winning ways puts Monaco level on points with league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who play Lyon on Sunday.

Stevan Jovetic saw his wonderful chipped shot from the edge of the box beat Strasbourg goalkeeper Bingourou Kamara but come back off the crossbar after just seven minutes as Monaco made a bright start.

Jean Eudes Aholou should have scored for Strasbourg when he was gifted a free header right in front of goal after 34 minutes but he lifted the ball over the crossbar when it seemed easier to score, and he was left to rue the miss as the first goal arrived 10 minutes later when Rachid Ghezzal played in Rony Lopes to score from close range.

Falcao made it 2-0 with a simple tap-in six minutes into the second half, side-footing the ball over the line from point blank range after Jorge's cross found him unmarked in the six-yard box.

Monaco goalkeeper Diego Benaglio made a superb save to deny Dimitri Lienard after 56 minutes, diving the full length of his goal to parry the powerful low shot away one-handed.



Falcao had a goal ruled out for offside after an hour but he made amends seven minutes later when Strasbourg captain Kader Mangane fell to the ground, allowing the Colombian striker to lash the ball into the net unchallenged and wrap up the victory.

 

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Getafe 1 Barcelona 2: Paulinho snatches victory but Dembele suffers injury scare

Substitute Paulinho scored a late winner as Barcelona came from behind to beat Getafe 2-1 and continue their perfect start to the new LaLiga season.

The Brazil international netted his first Barca goal with six minutes remaining as Ernesto Valverde's men recovered from a dreadful first half to claim a fourth straight top-flight victory in 2017-18.

The visitors lost Ousmane Dembele to injury in the opening period of his full Liga debut and their Saturday afternoon got worse when Japan international Gaku Shibasaki scored his first Getafe goal in stunning fashion before the break.

But another of Valverde's subs, Denis Suarez, struck for the first time since January as the visitors battled back in the second half, before Paulinho grabbed the winner just as it looked like they would have to settle for a draw.

Leaders Barca now have 12 points from their first four games and sit seven clear of reigning champions Real Madrid, whose game in hand is a testing away trip to in-form Real Sociedad on Sunday. Getafe remain on four points and have now gone 10 LaLiga matches without a home win, despite a brave performance.


The hosts made a bright start, forcing Gerard Pique into a rugby tackle on Jorge Molina to thwart an early attack, earning the defender a booking, although the resulting free-kick was wasted.

Getafe were inches away from moving in front when a neat passing move ended with Shibasaki's cross from the left being put into the side netting by a stretching Molina only a yard out, with a vital deflection from Pique as the pass was making its way to the striker doing just enough to put him off.Barca lost Dembele to a hamstring injury midway through the first half after he had attempted a back-heel near the corner flag, Gerard Deulofeu coming on.

Somewhat against the run of play, Barca should have moved ahead when Samuel Umtiti could only send a close-range free header straight at Vicente Guaita from Andres Iniesta's in-swinging cross.

But it was Getafe who took a shock 39th-minute lead at the other end, with Damian Suarez's deep cross brilliantly chested back by Markel Bergara, allowing Shibasaki to unleash a magnificent 20-yard volley past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was making his 100th Barca appearance.

Lionel Messi had a quiet first half until he sent a brilliant 30-yard free-kick towards goal in stoppage time, only for Guaita, at full stretch, to push it on to the crossbar as Getafe went into the break ahead.Getafe hero Shibasaki had to leave the match with an injury of his own early in the second half, shortly before Sergi Roberto tested Guaita.

The equaliser then came on 62 minutes as Barca regained possession down the right, allowing Roberto to cut back for Denis Suarez, who had replaced Iniesta at the break, to take a touch and send an impressive finish into the top corner from 12 yards.

Luis Suarez had a penalty claim turned down after tangling with Djene Dakonam in the box, ultimately earning himself a booking after continuous dissent.Valverde introduced Paulinho in his final change, but it was Getafe who almost grabbed a shock winner when Mauro Arambarri's deflected effort bounced off the foot of the post.However, despite being off-colour for much of the game, Barca were not to be denied a winner.

Paulinho – just seven minutes after coming on – collected a Messi pass and showed strength to fend off two home defenders as he charged into the box before firing a fine finish into the far corner, ensuring his side's fine start to the campaign continued.

 

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Liverpool 1 Burnley 1: Dyche's battlers spring another surprise

Burnley continued to defy the odds on the road with a 1-1 draw at Liverpool as Philippe Coutinho's Premier League return ended in disappointment.

Sean Dyche's side were woeful away from Turf Moor last season, winning only one top-flight game, but this term they have won at Chelsea and drawn at Tottenham.History weighed heavily against them at Anfield on Saturday, with the Clarets having won only once on their previous 23 visits in all competitions.

But Scott Arfield opened the scoring completely against the run of play 27 minutes in to offer a hint of what was to come and they held on even after the hosts quickly gathered themselves to level through Mohamed Salah.

Jurgen Klopp recalled Coutinho to the starting line-up, marking the Brazilian's return to league action following his transfer request last month amid a series of bids from Barcelona, and the Reds dominated, but goalkeeper Nick Pope played a key part in the visitors' resilient rear-guard action.

After Ben Mee had a header cleared off the line by Joel Matip late on, substitute Dominic Solanke hit the crossbar from just a few yards out as Liverpool – who were held in midweek by Sevilla in the Champions League – were frustrated again.


Liverpool made all the early running, with Trent Alexander-Arnold dragging an effort wide and seeing a teasing cross blocked by Robbie Brady. Salah had optimistic appeals for a penalty waved away after tumbling inside the box under pressure from James Tarkowski, with the Egypt international also heading over the crossbar from a tight angle.

As the hosts continuing to build up a head of steam, it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken and that proved the case, but not in the way anyone had anticipated.Tarkowski's diagonal ball was headed across the edge of the box by Brady, helped by a slight touch from Chris Wood on its way, and the unmarked Arfield capitalised on some slapdash defending to calmly steer home the opener.

Liverpool's response was swift and decisive, with Salah collecting Emre Can's lofted pass and finding a way past Pope from inside the box just three minutes later.

Klopp's side should have gone in ahead at the break, but James Milner's cross just eluded Daniel Sturridge as he raced into the six-yard box.The second half picked up were the first had left off, with Liverpool probing and Burnley trying to contain them.

Coutinho flashed a long-range attempt over the crossbar, while Pope escaped unpunished after spilling Can's low drive before producing a fine stop from Sturridge's strike.A timely intervention from Tarkowski thwarted Milner as he looked to volley goalwards, with the visitors looking increasingly stretched at the back.

Incredibly, Mee could have put Burnley ahead again in the final 10 minutes, but his looping header was nodded over the bar by Matip, with Simon Mignolet beaten.
The off-colour Coutinho was replaced by Solanke late on and the substitute could have turned one point into three, but he contrived to hit the woodwork with the goal gaping.

 

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Huddersfield Town 1 Leicester City 1: Spot-on Vardy earns a point for the Foxes


Jamie Vardy's penalty cancelled out a goal on his first Premier League start from Laurent Depoitre as Leicester City earned a battling 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.

Huddersfield had edged a first half that produced few moments of quality at the John Smith's Stadium and the match burst into life shortly after the break as Depoitre – who had made just one league substitute appearance this term – calmly slotted in a 46th-minute opener after outmuscling Harry Maguire.

But it proved a short-lived lead as four minutes later Vardy netted from the spot for the second consecutive week after Andy King was crudely felled by Chris Lowe.

Huddersfield looked the most likely to grab a winner thereafter and will feel aggrieved that Elias Kachunga saw a goal ruled out just after the hour, with replays suggesting the forward was perhaps marginally offside.

Leicester almost stole the points themselves, but Vardy failed to connect with Riyad Mahrez's cross with the goal unguarded.A point leaves Huddersfield in fifth after five matches, while Leicester – who had lost back-to-back games to Manchester United and Chelsea – are 14th.

Huddersfield were fast out of the traps and Depoitre, named up front in one of three changes, met Tom Ince's cross with a glancing header straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

Lowe then sent a teasing ball across the face of goal that evaded everybody and the full-back also delivered a deep cross from the left that Maguire did well to shield to safety.

Leicester had offered little and a Vardy left-foot snap-shot that flew wide shortly before the break was the best they had to show for a lacklustre first half.
The match came alive after the restart.

First, Depoitre showed superb strength to shrug off the attention of Maguire 30 yards from goal to collect Abdelhamid Sabiri's throughball and race into the area before coolly slotting past Schmeichel.


But the lead didn't last long. Lowe chopped down a surging King on the right of the box and Vardy smashed his penalty to the left of Jonas Lossl. Schmeichel made a smart stop to tip Zanka's drive over the top as Huddersfield sought to quickly regain the lead.

Shortly after, Kachunga seemingly got a slight touch on a Zanka effort that nestled in the bottom-right corner, with the linesman judging he was offside.Leicester should have made the most of that reprieve when Mahrez showed quick feet in the area and lashed a low ball across the face of goal from the right that Vardy failed to touch home at the back post.

As the clock wound down, Vardy failed to keep the ball in play after rounding Lossl before Demarai Gray felt he should have had a last-minute penalty when he went to ground following a race with Zanka.

 

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Watford 0 Manchester City 6: Aguero hat-trick puts Guardiola's men top

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League and extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a 6-0 win over Watford inspired by a Sergio Aguero hat-trick.

Pep Guardiola's men made light work of a Watford defence that had been impenetrable in the Hornets' previous three games, with Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling all joining Aguero on the scoresheet.

Aguero made it nine goals in five games against Watford and with two simple first-half strikes from close range and a brilliant second-half solo goal, while Jesus scored his 11th goal in 13 Premier League starts since joining the club in January.

The game was reminiscent of City's previous visit to Vicarage Road in May, when Jesus scored and Aguero got two in a 5-0 win, and Watford manager Marco Silva must prepare his reeling troops to bounce back when they travel to Swansea City and West Brom before the end of September.

Meanwhile, Guardiola can reflect on a week in which his side scored 15 goals without reply ahead of four games in three different competitions over the next two weeks.

Watford withstood City's early pressure, with goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes saving well from Fernandinho and Christian Kabasele making a superb tackle to deny Aguero a one-on-one after 18 minutes.

Watford's Brazilian forward Richarlison glanced a header wide of the post after 24 minutes but the breakthrough arrived at the other end three minutes later when Kevin De Bruyne floated a free-kick onto the head of Aguero, who made no mistake from five yards out.

Four minutes later, Jesus skipped down the left flank before feeding the ball to David Silva inside the box and the Spaniard squared it across the face of goal where Aguero arrived unchallenged to poke the ball home.


City's South American forwards made a mockery of Watford's burgeoning reputation for being a tough team to break down by making it 3-0 after 37 minutes when Aguero dribbled to the edge of the box and threaded a pass to Jesus, who picked his spot in the far corner of the net and dispatched the ball clinically.

Richarlison curled a shot just wide of Ederson's goal as Watford looked to re-assert themselves early in the second half but Gomes remained the busier of the two keepers and he saved Silva's powerful rising shot brilliantly on 62 minutes.

But Gomes' hard work was undone one minute later when Silva sent over a cross that evaded the yellow shirts in the box and picked out Otamendi, who powered a header beyond the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 with just over an hour played.

Etienne Capoue blazed a free header over the crossbar 19 minutes from time, before Aguero scored the pick of the goals when he danced through Watford's defence and rolled the ball into the net. Sterling than completed the rout, slamming home an 88th-minute penalty after he was brought down in the box by Kabasele.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bayern Munich 4 Mainz 0: Muller helps ease pressure on Ancelotti

Thomas Muller offered a demonstration of his worth to Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti by starring in Saturday's 4-0 Bundesliga win over Mainz.Bayern lost their last league meeting 2-0 to Hoffenheim and were unconvincing for long periods in seeing off Anderlecht 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek, with a number of players making their frustrations clear on the pitch.

Ancelotti has been under pressure as a result of Bayern's sluggish start to the campaign, with Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann tipped as a replacement.

But it was Muller, who was dropped for the Anderlecht game and has expressed irritation at being in and out of the team, who starred in a performance that should ease the burden on Ancelotti.

Muller opened the scoring in the 11th minute with an effort that deflected in off Arjen Robben, who eventually doubled Bayern's lead after they spurned a host of first-half chances.

Robert Lewandowski effectively wrapped up the points by converting a magnificent cross from Muller, with the Pole then doubling his tally to add gloss to the scoreline.


Daniel Brosinski provided an early demonstration of Mainz's threat when his curling effort was turned around the post by Manuel Neuer, but the visitors' promising start soon dissipated and Bayern took the lead in somewhat fortuitous fashion.

Mainz failed to deal with a ball in from the left and Joshua Kimmich laid off to Muller, whose effort was deflected past Rene Adler by Robben.Robin Quaison almost caught Bayern cold as he latched on to Levin Oztunali's throughball, only to be frustrated as Neuer kept out his powerful low drive.

Adler performed heroics to deny Robben and Arturo Vidal with a stunning double save following great work down the left from Kingsley Coman, who then appeared destined to double the advantage but succeeded only in striking the underside of the crossbar from point-blank range with the goal at his mercy.

Lewandowski then skewed wide with seemingly the entire goal to aim at, before the second goal Bayern's dominance deserved finally arrived via Robben.Kimmich was again instrumental as he slipped in the Dutchman, who made no mistake in lofting the ball over Adler at the near post.

Just five minutes after the restart Bayern made the game safe as Muller's excellent low delivery from the right was calmly dispatched by Lewandowski.

The same combination almost supplied a fourth goal but Lewandowski narrowly missed getting on the end of Muller's centre.

Lewandowski then failed to connect with an overhead kick from Muller, with Fabian Frei providing Neuer with work to do at the other end with a vicious volley from outside the area.Substitute Franck Ribery was denied by Adler at the near post before Vidal clattered a header against the crossbar, yet Mainz could not prevent Lewandowski from making it four by nodding in Kimmich's cross.

Sebastian Rudy would have made it five had his rasping volley not struck the woodwork and the only dissatisfaction in the Bayern camp after this performance will be that the scoreline was not even more emphatic.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Crotone 0 Inter 2: Skriniar and Perisic deliver as Spalletti's side leave it late

Late goals from Milan Skriniar and Ivan Perisic helped maintain Inter's 100 per cent start to the Serie A season as they edged past a stubborn Crotone side 2-0.
Luciano Spalletti's men looked in real danger of dropping their first points of the campaign at Stadio Ezio Scida before Slovakian defender Skriniar poked home with just eight minutes remaining. Croatian forward Perisic then doubled Inter's advantage in stoppage time with a low strike.

Joao Mario had missed a golden opportunity to give Inter the lead in the first half, while Crotone's best chance went to Marcus Rohden, whose close-range header was superbly kept out by Nerazzurri goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.It was a hugely improved performance from Crotone, but they are yet to score in four games so far this season.

Inter will hope to maintain their impressive start when they travel to Bologna on Tuesday, while Crotone will be eyeing their first three points - and goal - of the campaign with a trip to Atalanta on Wednesday.


Inter started confidently, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the first sight of goal after eight minutes. Aleksandar Tonev picked Miranda's pocket on the halfway line and burst towards Inter's box, but his drilled shot was comfortably repelled by Handanovic.

Perisic then had Inter's first effort on goal but he struggled to generate enough power on his left-footed shot to trouble Alex Cordaz.

Just a minute later and Handanovic was called into action again. Ante Budimir failed to make a clean connection on his long-range half-volley, but the Inter goalkeeper could only fumble it around the post when it looked easier to gather.
Joao Mario then missed a golden opportunity to give his side the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Borja Valero stole possession just inside the Crotone half before releasing Perisic, whose through ball was latched onto by Joao Mario. The Portuguese international, though, was only able to roll his low shot past Cordaz's far post.

The final chance of the half went to the hosts as Bruno Martella's fierce drive from a short free-kick careered agonisingly past Handanovic's post.The half-time break did little to halt Crotone's momentum and they should have been ahead five minutes into the second period.

Tonev latched onto a long ball over the top of the Inter defence, but when confronted with Handanovic he could only hit his effort into the body of the Slovenian.

Handanovic was called into action again midway through the second half with a stunning save. Rohden met a teasing cross with a close-range header but the Inter keeper showed incredible reflexives to tip the ball over the bar.

Just when it looked like Inter would have to settle for a point, Skriniar stepped up in the 82nd minute and prodded home after a scramble in the middle of the Crotone area.

Perisic then compounded Crotone's misery with a deflected strike to wrap up all three points.