..::Football IV::..

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'This is my last season here' - Iniesta confirms Barcelona exit


Andres Iniesta has confirmed he is leaving Barcelona after 16 seasons at the club.
The 33-year-old held a special press conference to announce his exit from Camp Nou, having won 31 major trophies during his time at the club.Iniesta joined Barcelona as a 12-year-old in 1996, working his way through La Masia before breaking into the first team in 2002-03.

By his third season with the senior side, he was an integral part of the Barcelona midfield, helping lift his first La Liga title in 2004-05, and then completed the league and Champions League double the following season.

Iniesta is on track to win his ninth La Liga title this year as Barcelona currently hold an 11 point lead over Atletico Madrid and are 15 ahead of Real Madrid with just five games remaining.

The midfielder confirmed that the 2017-18 season would be his last, announcing: "This is my last season here. I have thought my decision through for a long time.

"For me, Barca is the best club in the world - this club has given me everything.
"It's a very difficult day for me, to be here saying goodbye when I've spent my whole life here at Barcelona."A great deal of who I am, is down to Barca and La Masia - I am very thankful to them."

He lifted a sixth Copa del Rey title in April, receiving a standing ovation as he was substituted in what proved to be an emotional farewell ahead of the official confirmation of his exit.

Since then, he has received praise from former team-mates, opponents and football dignitaries, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu hailing him as Barcelona's most important player of the last decade."From 2004 until now, he has been the most important player we have had because he has been in every coach's project since [Frank] Rijkaard," Bartomeu told El Larguero.

Iniesta has been linked with a move to China, but reports in England have also speculated that his next move could be to Arsenal or Manchester City, with PSG also a possible destination.

 

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Emery: I'm leaving PSG in the summer


Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery has admitted that he will leave the Ligue 1 champions in the summer.Despite winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de la Ligue this term, the Spaniard's reign has been overshadowed by failure in the Champions League.

In two seasons, PSG have twice been eliminated at the last-16 stage of the competition, going down to Real Madrid this term having embarrassingly been beaten 6-1 by Barcelona to exit last season's tournament.

"I've told the players that I will leave," he told the press on Friday. "Thanks to the president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the sporting director Antero Henrique, the supporters and all the players for these two seasons."He admitted that the first season was particularly tough, with that defeat to Barca a hammer blow.

"The first six months were hard," he said. "Ibrahimovic had just left and I was also trying to adapt. After that, the team improved but the elimination against Barcelona was difficult."

He offered his backing to the club in the pursuit of their future goals, the greatest of which is to emerge successful in Europe, while he reaffirmed Neymar's desire to stay in Paris. "PSG have a solid project," he continued. "Neymar wants to evolve and grow with the club."

Meanwhile, with the prospect of completing a domestic treble is still very much alive - third-tier Les Herbies await in the final of the Coupe de France - and Emery wants his players to finish the campaign well."When you play with the PSG jersey on your back, it's important to maintain your desire and your performance level - especially for the fans," he said.

"Every game is important. Until now, the players have responded well on the field since the elimination against Real Madrid."He would not, however, be drawn on his own future."I'm concentrated on the end of the league and on the final of the Coupe de France. After that, we'll see what the options are," he said.

The 46-year-old has so far overseen 109 matches with PSG, winning 86, drawing 12 and losing only 11. Under his guidance, the Parisian side have conceded 306 goals and conceded only 86.

Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, has been strongly linked with replacing Emery, with the press in Germany and France suggesting he has already agreed a deal to take over.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.04.28

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.04.28

(FT)

Liverpool 0 Vs 0 Stoke

Burnley Vs Brighton

Huddersfield Vs Everton

Crystal Palace Vs Leicester City

Newcastle Vs WBA

Southampton Vs Bournemouth

Swansea Vs Chelsea

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Serie A Fixtures 2018.04.28

Serie A Fixtures 2018.04.28

Roma Vs Chievo

Inter Vs Juventus​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.04.28

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.04.28

Espanyol Vs Las Palmas

Real Sociedad Vs Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid Vs Leganes

Villareal Vs Celta Vigo​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.04.28

Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.04.28

Bayern Vs Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin Vs Augsburg

Freiburg Vs Cologne

Schalke Vs Monchengladbach

Wolfsburg Vs Hamburg

Leverkusen Vs Stuttgart​

 

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Swansea City 0 Chelsea 1: Blues keep Champions League ambitions alive

Chelsea kept their hopes of a top-four finish alive and dented Swansea City's survival bid with a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium.In a game of precious few chances, it was Cesc Fabregas' superb fourth-minute strike that proved decisive – his 50th in the Premier League.

Andre Ayew curled wide for the hosts late on, but they rarely looked like finding a leveller against opponents who comfortably kept them at arm's length throughout.



The win lifts Antonio Conte's side just two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who face Watford at Wembley on Monday.Swansea, meanwhile, are just one point ahead of 18th-placed Southampton following Mark Hughes' side's 2-1 win over Bournemouth earlier in the day.

Carlos Carvalhal's men now have three games to preserve their top-flight status, including home clashes with the Saints and Stoke City, in what promises to be a nail-biting climax to the season.


Swansea barely had a chance to catch their breath by the time Chelsea had raced into an early lead. Eden Hazard showed characteristically quick feet to find space on the edge of the penalty area before teeing up Fabregas, who whipped a first-time effort with his left foot into Lukasz Fabianski's top corner.

Mike van der Hoorn got in the way of a goal-bound Victor Moses strike soon after, while Alfie Mawson clipped his own crossbar attempting to clear a loose ball as Chelsea dominated the opening period.The Swans started to grow into the game towards the end of the half, but were unable to penetrate the Chelsea backline and test Thibaut Courtois.

Swansea were successful in disrupting Chelsea's flow at the start of the second period but, much like in the first-half, they rarely looked like finding an equaliser.

Tiemoue Bakayoko dragged a shot wide from distance as Chelsea looked to double their advantage and put the game to bed, while Emerson Palmieri's low drive was kept out by Fabianski after the Brazilian had produced a dazzling run from just inside the Swans' half.

Moses then somehow contrived to prod wide from all of three yards after Fabregas' shot had careered towards him before Ayew missed the hosts' best chance.The Ghanaian picked the ball up just inside the area, but his left-foot shot arced agonisingly wide of Courtois' post.

Tom Carroll flashed a shot wide and Wayne Routledge fired straight at Courtois in the closing stages as Swansea ultimately fell short of finding a priceless equaliser.

 

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Real Madrid 2 Leganes 1: Bale makes bid for Bayern Munich start

Gareth Bale advanced his claims for a midweek Champions League start as a much-changed Real Madrid edged Leganes 2-1 to maintain winning form ahead of Bayern Munich's visit.

Zinedine Zidane made 10 changes to the team that beat the Bundesliga champions by the same scoreline on Wednesday and was rewarded with a well-timed goal from Bale, who may have done enough to hold his place for Tuesday's semi-final second leg.There were few others who made a compelling case, though, as Los Blancos delivered a largely underwhelming performance, doing just enough to go unbeaten in eight LaLiga games and move within a point of second-placed Atletico Madrid.




Bale's early opener came via an initial attempt from Karim Benzema before Borja Mayoral - leading the attack in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo - doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time.

Leganes, who had skipper Gabriel Pires sent off after the final whistle, knew they only needed a point to confirm their LaLiga status for another season and looked as though they might get it after Darko Brasanac pulled one back with just under 25 minutes remaining.

Zidane's men recovered a measure of composure after that wake-up call and saw out a victory that keeps them ticking over ahead of the bigger challenges to come, including next Sunday's trip to Barcelona, whom they now trail by 12 points with four league fixtures remaining.


Bale only needed eight minutes to make his audition count, albeit in contentious fashion.There was a hint of offside as the winger acrobatically volleyed the opener through Ivan Cuellar's legs at close range, Benzema's initial effort having broken kindly in the box.Leganes steadied after the early setback and went agonisingly close to an equaliser midway through the half as Gabriel's flick-on header brushed the base of the far post.

Chances followed at either end soon after that near miss with Miguel Angel Guerrero first failing to properly connect with a backheel finish, before Mayoral had an attempt scrambled off the line.

The visitors continued to threaten in their attacking forays and clipped the woodwork for a second time shortly before the interval, Nordin Amrabat grazing the top of the crossbar with an inventive toe-poke.

Yet, on the stroke of half-time, their hopes of securing an unlikely result took another hit. Mayoral ghosted in at the far post and tapped in a corner that had skimmed off the head of a Leganes defender.

An unmarked Guerrero passed up a big opportunity to reduce the deficit immediately after the interval when he mistimed a header from Nabil El Zhar's cross.Zidane moved to further safeguard against injuries by withdrawing Benzema – another contender to replace the sidelined Isco on Tuesday – meaning Bale took over the captain's armband for the final half hour.

But there was little the winger could do to prevent team-mate Achraf Hakimi from gifting Leganes a way back into the contest in the 66th minute, the young full-back switching off as he allowed Brasanac to tap home Amrabat's pass across the face of goal.Kiko Casilla, standing in for Keylor Navas, then clawed away a stretching effort from Unai Bustinza to preserve an increasingly uncertain Madrid lead.

But there was only frustration to come for Asier Garitano's men as Gabriel was dismissed after confronting referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva over his decision to blow for full-time just as a shot beckoned.

 

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Inter 2 Juventus 3: Dramatic Derby d'Italia triumph keeps Allegri's men on track

Gonzalo Higuain headed a dramatic late winner as Juventus pulled off a sensational turnaround to beat 10-man rivals Inter 3-2 in the Derby d'Italia, moving the Serie A leaders four points clear of Scudetto rivals Napoli.Defending champions Juventus looked set to open the door for Napoli - who won 1-0 in Turin last weekend to breathe new life into the title battle - after Inter came from behind at San Siro on Saturday.

Matias Vecino's 18th-minute red card, after Douglas Costa had rifled Juve in front, appeared likely to ensure Massimiliano Allegri's men would comfortably claim three points.However, Juve collapsed after the break, Mauro Icardi heading Inter level before an own goal from Andrea Barzagli put the hosts in front.

Much more drama was still to come, though, with Juan Cuadrado's cross deflecting in off Milan Skiriniar in the 87th minute prior to remarkable scenes in the closing stages.

Higuain had been guilty of missing a fantastic chance with the score at 1-1, but the former Napoli striker significantly dented the Partenopei's title hopes with an 89th-minute header to spark wild celebrations and ensure the Scudetto, somewhat improbably, remains in Juve's hands.


Napoli must now respond when they head to Fiorentina on Sunday, while Inter remain outside the Champions League places and could yet lose further ground to fourth-placed Lazio.

When Juventus took a 13th-minute lead, a Cuadrado cross controlled and lashed in on the volley by Douglas Costa at the back post, there were few signs of the drama that was to come.That goal survived a VAR review for a possible handball in the box by Blaise Matuidi and the technology was used again in Juve's favour moments later to decide the fate of Vecino.

Referee Daniele Orsato originally decided an apparent stamp on Mandzukic was only worthy of a yellow card, but Vecino was dismissed after the official reviewed the video replay.Inter responded well to being reduced to 10 men, but Juve were denied a second goal in first-half stoppage time, Matuidi ruled by VAR to be offside when he lashed in from close range.

Allegri's side have been troubled by set-pieces all season, Kalidou Koulibaly's 90th-minute header winning the game for Napoli last weekend, and Icardi ensured 11 of the 22 league goals conceded by Juve this term have come from dead-ball situations.Juve made a sloppy start to the second period and when Cancelo floated a delightful free-kick into the box, Icardi found space to head home his eighth goal against the Bianconeri.

Inter felt Miralem Pjanic should have been sent off when the already booked midfielder barged Rafinha, but referee Orsato instead took Danilo D'Ambrosio's name for dissent.

Higuain blazed wide after rounding Samir Handanovic and the 10 men promptly took the lead in the 65th minute. Perisic won possession deep in Juve territory and when the Croatia international sent a low ball across goal, Barzagli could only turn it into his own net.Allegri turned to Paulo Dybala for inspiration and the forward forced a sensational one-handed save from Handanovic with a dipping free-kick.

The Juve coach said after his side lost to Napoli that Maurizio Sarri's team should be considered favourites and as Inter led with three minutes left the Partenopei looked set to move into pole position.Yet out of nowhere Juve drew level, Cuadrado scampering clear down the right and pulling back a cross that beat the helpless Handanovic thanks to a big deflection off Skriniar.

Within two minutes Juve had scored the goal that could eventually secure a seventh straight Scudetto, Higuain stooping to nod in Dybala's cross and spark delirious scenes of jubilation.

Allegri appeared to be dismissed in the aftermath after running on to the pitch to tell his side to calm their celebrations, but victory ensures Juventus remain in control of their destiny.

 

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Bayern Munich 4 Eintracht Frankfurt 1: Kovac fails to halt future employers

Niko Kovac missed out on an opportunity to beat his future club, as a much-changed Bayern Munich side thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 in the Bundesliga.
Former Bayern player Kovac was announced as Jupp Heynckes' successor in April, having impressed at Frankfurt in the past two seasons.

However, in a dress rehearsal for the DFB-Pokal final, it was Heynckes, despite having made eight changes to Bayern's starting XI ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, who triumphed thanks to goals from Niklas Dorsch, Sandro Wagner, Rafinha and Niklas Sule.




Dorsch marked his Bayern debut in style on 43 minutes, although it could have been different for Frankfurt, with both Mijat Gacinovic and Luka Jovic having passed up gilt-edged chances.

Wagner's well-taken goal looked to have put the game beyond all doubt with 14 minutes remaining, only for Sebastien Haller to set up a grandstand finish.
Ultimately though, Frankfurt's spirited fightback came to nothing, substitutes Rafinha and Sule making Bayern's victory emphatic late on.


Kovac could have got off to the ideal start against his future employers inside the opening 10 minutes, only for Jovic to fire a tame effort at Sven Ulreich following a well-crafted Frankfurt counter-attack. One of three Bayern debutants, Franck Evina was the first to go close for the hosts with a long-range effort that curled wide, before Wagner drew a fine save from Lukas Hradecky.

Evina continued to impress, but Frankfurt should have taken the lead prior to half-time.First, Gacinovic failed to hit the target with a first-time strike from the edge of the box before, moments later, Jovic fired straight at Ulreich, having got one-on-one with Bayern's goalkeeper.

Bayern were quick to make Frankfurt pay - Wagner leaving the visitors' defence in his wake to tee up Dorsch, who made no mistake with a neat finish.

Despite Bayern's lead, Frankfurt continued to threaten - Jovic just failing to apply the finishing touch to Danny da Costa's low cross.Wagner should have doubled Bayern's tally just after the hour, but the striker could not turn Evina's cross in.

The former Hoffenheim man made amends when he slotted home after good work from Sebastian Rudy.Haller bundled in Da Costa's cross from close range to make things interesting with 12 minutes remaining, but it was Bayern who would have the final say.

Dreadful defending from Frankfurt enabled Rafinha to race clear, and the full-back duly slotted in his first Bundesliga goal since 2016.

Fellow substitute Sule, playing in a holding midfield role, would add further gloss to the victory in the final minute - driving through Frankfurt's lines before drilling in a low finish to tee Bayern up perfectly for Tuesday's trip to Madrid.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.04.29

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.04.29

West Ham Vs Manchester City

Manchester United Vs Arsenal

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[Wolverine GTR]

Tough match ekek wei Arsenal match ekaAllround gatthama meh season eke Arsenal down unath Auba ge arrival ekath ekka team eke attacking strong & Lacazette unath hoda form ekaka innawa dan

So hoda fight ekak denna wenawa Arsenal beat karanna

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.04.29

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.04.29

Getafe Vs Girona

Alaves Vs Atletico Madrid

Valencia Vs Eibar

Deportivo Vs Barcelona​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2018.04.29

Serie A Fixtures 2018.04.29

Crotone Vs Sassuolo

Atalanta Vs Genoa

Benevento Vs Udinese

Bologna Vs AC Milan

Sampdoria Vs Cagliari

Verona Vs Spal

Fiorentina Vs Napoli

Torino Vs Lazio​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.04.29

Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.04.29

Mainz Vs Leipzig

Werder Bremen Vs Dortmund​

 

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Manchester United Vs Arsenal

Manchester United Starting Line-up

De Gea
Valencia
Lindelof
Smalling
Young
Herrera
Matic
Pogba
Lingard
Sanchez
Lukaku

&

Arsenal Starting Line-up

Opsina
Bellerin
Chambers
Mavropanos
Kolasinac
Xhaka
Maitland-Niles
Nelson
Iwobi
Mkhitaryan
Aubameyang
​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Manchester United!
​

 

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Full Time

Manchester United 2 Vs 1 Arsenal

Manchester United Goal(s)

P.Pogba 16'
M.Fellaini 90+1'

&

Arsenal Goal(s)

H.Mkhitarian 51'


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[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Fellaini

Ada win ekath ekka next seasons Champions League qualified una

& next Brighton away match ekaGood Luck for the next match Manchester United!
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[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United 2 Arsenal 1: Late Fellaini header downs Wenger's callow Gunners

Marouane Fellaini headed a stoppage-time winner to earn Manchester United a 2-1 home victory in Arsene Wenger's last visit to Old Trafford as Arsenal manager.Wenger, presented with a gift by old rival Alex Ferguson before kick-off, rested the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette with an eye on Thursday's Europa League semi-final, naming his youngest league XI since 2011's infamous 8-2 loss at United.

And the Frenchman's young side were on track to do him proud, Henrikh Mkhitaryan levelling on his Old Trafford return after Paul Pogba's early opener for United.But although United's attack was depleted by an injury that forced Romelu Lukaku off early in the second half, Jose Mourinho's men came up with a late winner.Ashley Young's inswinging cross from the left was perfect for Fellaini to rise highest in the box to flick home the decisive goal in the second minute of added time.

A sixth successive defeat away from home in the Premier League will be irrelevant if Wenger can inspire a tunraround away to Atletico Madrid as United secured a top-four finish and tightened their grip on second place.


Pogba failed to take advantage of an early chance but he made amends with the opening goal in the 16th minute.Lukaku floated a cross to the back post and, although Hector Bellerin deflected Sanchez's header on to the post, Pogba was well placed to knock in the rebound with a cushioned volley.

Like Sanchez, Mkhitaryan was facing the club he left in January, and the Armenia international almost levelled with a drilled strike that flew just wide.Mkhitaryan and Maitland-Niles had penalty appeals rejected as United's intensity dropped, allowing Arsenal into the game, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sent a poor header straight at David de Gea in the 36th minute.

Ashley Young's mishit cross rattled the post as United rallied at the end of the half, but the game had a strangely low-key feel, with little riding on the outcome.Lukaku limped off early in the second half after taking a knock to his ankle and Mkhitaryan - who refused to celebrate - promptly levelled the scores in the 51st minute.

United allowed their former player too much space in midfield, Mkhitaryan finding the gap between Victor Lindelof's legs to beat De Gea from the edge of the penalty area.

A raft of second-half substitutions saw an already low tempo fall even further, although former United striker Danny Welbeck stung De Gea's palms with an ambitious strike from range and Fellaini rifled a drive over the crossbar.United thought they had scored a late winner when Rashford bundled in on the line after Fellaini's header rebounded off the post, but the offside flag cut short their celebrations.

There was no stopping United in added time, though, Fellaini glancing in an excellent header from Young's perfect centre to ensure Wenger would only leave Old Trafford with his present from Ferguson.