..::Football IV::..

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Real Madrid confirm Lopetegui will be in charge for El Clasico


Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno has insisted head coach Julen Lopetegui will remain in charge for Sunday's El Clasico clash with Barcelona.Champions League holders Madrid ended a five-match winless run in all competitions with a 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday, but Lopetegui's men were far from convincing.

Reports before the game had suggested Lopetegui would be sacked regardless of the result, yet Butragueno claims the club are planning to continue as normal ahead of the trip to Camp Nou.

"Lopetegui will sit on the bench at Camp Nou as normal," he told Movistar. "In these kind of situations, it is important to remain calm and trust the players.Sunday's game is a great motivation for us."

Pushed on the rumours Lopetegui would be sacked before El Clasico, Butragueno added: "It is normal. This is football. We have heard the rumours, but we have confidence and hopefully we will play well at Camp Nou."Goal understands that El Clasico will be a pivotal game for Lopetegui, who could be sacked if his side don't perform against their great rivals.

On Tuesday Madrid were jeered at times against Plzen, with fans turning on the home players as they granted the Czech side chance after chance and passed up opportunities of their own.

Butragueno is keen to improve the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu, adding: "Real Madrid fans want to see their team play well, [and score] goals, goals, goals.
"The fans are very loyal but now we have to change this trend [of jeering]. We respect the public and in these moments we need the support of the people to improve this situation."

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2018.10.24

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2018.10.24

Club Brugge Vs Monaco

PSV Vs Tottenham

Barcelona Vs Inter

Dortmund Vs Atletico Madrid

Galatasaray Vs Schalke

Liverpool Vs Crvena

Lokomotiv Vs Porto

PSG Vs Napoli

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Borussia Dortmund 4 Atletico Madrid 0: Bundesliga leaders storm clear in Group A

Borussia Dortmund are looming as a Champions League threat after taking command of Group A with an incredible 4-0 home win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Lucien Favre's Bundesliga leaders demonstrated impressive maturity to pile on three second-half goals and protect their unbeaten record in all competitions, while inflicting Diego Simeone's heaviest loss as Atleti coach.

The home side's defensive aptitude was scrutinised after Axel Witsel's heavily deflected 38th-minute opener and they convincingly passed the test with a dominant final 20 minutes, Raphael Guerreiro netting twice either side of a simple finish from fellow substitute Jadon Sancho.


The convincing result means Dortmund are now three points clear of Atleti, who remain five points ahead of the bottom two.Dortmund, already without the in-form Paco Alcacer, suffered a first-half injury setback when Thomas Delaney hobbled off, although Favre's mood was soon lifted.

Witsel's shot from the edge of the area took a thick deflection off Saul Niguez and completely wrong-footed Jan Oblak, who was thankful that Dan-Axel Zagadou headed wide from a corner four minutes later.

Saul emerged after the interval on a one-man mission to wipe out the deficit but must only have felt a stronger sense of injustice as three attempts all went close, the second a sublime curling effort that met the apex of post and bar.Achraf Hakimi perhaps cost Marco Reus the chance to mark his 50th European appearance with a goal as BVB eventually regained a foothold but the left-back quickly atoned with a pair of assists.

He first squared for Guerreiro's simple finish on 73 minutes and then provided Sancho with a tap-in on the end of a counter-attack 10 minutes later.And worse was to come for Atleti when Guerreiro was gifted a brace from Filipe Luis' bafflingly loose pass in the last minute of normal time.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 2 Napoli 2: Di Maria rescues a point for PSG

Angel Di Maria's brilliant stoppage-time effort rescued a point for Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-2 draw with Napoli in Champions League Group C.It had looked like PSG would suffer their first home loss in 20 Champions League group stage games when Dries Mertens put Napoli 2-1 ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

But Argentina international Di Maria whipped a terrific finish past David Ospina in the 93rd minute to deny Carlo Ancelotti victory against his former club.


PSG came into the game having never beaten Italian opposition in Europe's premier club competition and Lorenzo Insigne's first-half effort gave Napoli the lead.

The French side levelled when Mario Rui diverted Thomas Meunier's cross into his own goal but PSG continued to look suspect at the back.Mertens restored Napoli's lead and though Di Maria replied, Liverpool's win over Red Star Belgrade meant PSG still slipped down to third in the group.

A sign this might not be PSG's night arrived in the first two minutes as Neymar sustained an injury having been kicked by Edinson Cavani when the two got in each other's way.

Neymar was fine to continue and his team had plenty of chances, with Cavani missing a pair of opportunities, though PSG were given a warning when Mertens struck the crossbar.

Insigne was the next Napoli attacker to get behind the PSG backline in the 29th minute, and he collected Jose Callejon's delicious pass and lifted a finish over Alphonse Areola and into the net.Ospina denied Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and then Meunier either side of the break as PSG pushed for a leveller.

With Insigne having been replaced seemingly due to an injury, PSG got their reward when a lovely move ended with a sliding Mario Rui diverting Meunier's cross past a wrong-footed Ospina.Napoli would regain the lead through the quick-thinking Mertens after Marquinhos failed to deal with Fabian Ruiz's initial effort.

But Di Maria was afforded just enough space on his left foot to claim a late equaliser when he bent an unstoppable shot into the far corner from just outside the box.

 

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Liverpool 4 Red Star Belgrade 0: Salah nets milestone 50th goal in romp

Mohamed Salah scored his 50th Liverpool goal as Jurgen Klopp's men eased to a 4-0 home win over Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday to get their Champions League campaign back on track by going top of Group C.

A Salah brace – his second from the penalty spot bringing up his milestone after just 65 games in competitions – and further goals from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane ensured last season's beaten finalists bounced back in style from a dramatic defeat to Napoli last time out.

There was little danger of Liverpool suffering a second straight European reverse, though, as Red Star were put to the sword at a raucous Anfield. Meanwhile, a 93rd-minute Paris Saint-Germain equaliser earned them a 2-2 draw with Napoli in the group's other game to ensure the Reds move into pole position to progress.


The opening 20 minutes were littered with loose Liverpool touches and stray passes, with their defensive work similarly lax as Srdjan Babic ghosted in to volley over the top from a corner.

But the hosts' first real chance resulted in the opener. Xherdan Shaqiri dissected the Red Star defence and the advancing Andrew Robertson pulled the ball back to Firmino, whose strike deflected beyond goalkeeper Milan Borjan.Liverpool belatedly found their groove and, after Robertson blazed wide of the target, Salah got in on the act with a clinical finish high past Borjan.

A comfortable second half was then set in motion for Liverpool as Salah smashed home a contentious penalty, Mane having gone down softly under a challenge from Filip Stojkovic.

Borjan's stunning stop from a second Liverpool spot-kick briefly kept Mane at bay after El Fardou Ben was penalised for handball, but the winger soon prodded into the net to cap a positive evening for Liverpool.

 

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Barcelona 2 Inter 0: Rafinha helps down old club as injured Messi watches on

Rafinha scored in Lionel Messi's absence as Barcelona beat the Brazilian's former club Inter 2-0 in the Champions League to move three points clear at the top of Group B.

Messi was absent due to a fractured arm that will keep him out for three weeks but Rafinha justified being brought into the team by opening the scoring in the first half at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Luis Suarez sent in a brilliant cross and Rafinha slotted home against his old colleagues, with Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in fine form before being beaten late on by Jordi Alba.


After taking maximum points from three rounds Barca are on the brink of qualification but Inter can expect to join them as they have a five-point cushion from winless PSV and Tottenham.
Clement Lenglet scored an own goal against former club Sevilla last time out but he almost found the net at the right end, his header brilliantly blocked by Handanovic's legs.Rafinha, making his fifth appearance of the season, wasted a clear sight of goal but he beat Handanovic with his next chance in the 32nd minute.

The right-wing cross from Suarez was begging to be tucked away and Rafinha, who spent time on loan at Inter last season, provided a simple first-time finish.Matteo Politano missed a great chance to equalise in the 52nd minute when found by Mauro Icardi's cute backheel, but he blazed his shot over the crossbar.

Suarez was proving a thorn in Inter's side and, when he wriggled through on goal, Handanovic had to make a smart block to keep it 1-0, the goalkeeper then denying Lenglet again.

Philippe Coutinho almost extended Barca's lead but thudded a shot against the crossbar before Alba made certain of the points with a powerful finish after being sent through by Ivan Rakitic.

And a watching Messi was able to relax in the Camp Nou stands, his team-mates getting the job done without him.

 

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PSV 2 Tottenham 2: De Jong snatches draw after Lloris red

Tottenham suffered a late collapse to draw 2-2 with PSV on Wednesday after a Hugo Lloris red card and an equaliser from Luuk de Jong.The visitors looked set for their first win of this season's Champions League after Lucas Moura and Harry Kane had overturned Hirving Lozano's opening goal in the first half.

But when Lloris was dismissed 11 minutes from time, PSV sensed a chance for a point and got it through De Jong's 87th-minute leveller.


The result leaves each side on one point from three matches and facing an uphill task to haul in Barcelona and Inter at the top of Group B.Kane hit the bar early on but PSV took full advantage when Toby Alderweireld gifted them the chance to take the lead. Having allowed Lozano to steal possession, the defender did well to track back only to deflect the forward's shot over Lloris when trying to make a block.

Spurs thought they had levelled barely five minutes later when Davinson Sanchez tapped in from a corner, but the goal was disallowed apparently for an offside infringement against Kane.

They got their equaliser 39 minutes in, though. Christian Eriksen's fine throughball sent Kieran Trippier into the area, and his cut-back was fired home by Lucas with the aid of a deflection.Spurs rode their luck again when Gaston Pereiro hit the bar just before the break, but a fine passage of play between Son Heung-min and Eriksen allowed Kane to head them into the lead within 10 minutes of the restart.

Mauricio Pochettino's men suddenly looked in total command and should really have doubled their lead, with Kane seeing another header blocked by the leg of Jeroen Zoet and Erik Lamela catching the top of the crossbar.

Lloris was given a straight red card after racing out of his goal and scything down Lozano, and Spurs were unable to survive the loss of their captain, with De Jong prodding home Pablo Rosario's mishit shot.

 

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Club Brugge 1 Monaco 1: Sylla strikes but Belgians deny Henry first win

Thierry Henry picked up a point in his first Champions League game in charge of Monaco with a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge – but was grateful to Lois Openda for missing a late sitter for the hosts in the Group A clash.Moussa Sylla scuffed in with his right foot to put the Ligue 1 strugglers ahead in the 31st minute on Wednesday, only for Wesley's header to level matters as Brugge ended an eight-match losing streak in the competition.

Henry's managerial debut with Monaco on Saturday had been eventful to say the least, as he witnessed goalkeeper Seydou Sy make a shocking error and Samuel Grandsir receive a red card in a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg.


Radamel Falcao sustained an injury at the weekend, leaving the new man in charge without one of his more seasoned European campaigners.He also lost Stevan Jovetic after less than 10 minutes due to a right leg injury, yet the visitors overcame his early exit to take the lead, Aleksandr Golovin slipping through a pass through to pick out the run of Sylla, who saw his first-time attempt roll in despite making poor contact.

Crucially, though, the forward failed to double both his and Monaco's tally when he missed the target with his left foot from a tight angle after rounding keeper Karlo Letica – and the let-off allowed the hosts to level prior to the break.

Hans Vanaken's right-footed cross from the left flank was met firmly by Wesley, the Brazilian forward steering his header beyond Loic Badiashile – making his first start of the season – in Monaco's goal.The 20-year-old keeper was able to deny Emmanuel Bonaventure in the early stages of a second half that saw Brugge firmly in the ascendency.

Their dominance would have been rewarded with a late winner had substitute Openda hit the target with a free header from close range in additional time, the shocking miss letting Henry and Monaco off the hook at the death.

 

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AC Milan 1 Real Betis 2: Lo Celso excels to leave Gattuso on uncertain ground

Real Betis piled more pressure on Gennaro Gattuso as AC Milan surrendered top spot in Group F in a listless 2-1 home loss in the Europa League.

Giovani Lo Celso set up Antonio Sanabria's 30th-minute opener and curled in a wonderful sealer 10 minutes after the interval to fire the LaLiga side ahead of their hosts, who are now only two points clear of third-placed Olympiacos.It was no worse a fate than Milan deserved for waiting until the 83rd minute to issue any kind of riposte to their weekend defeat to city rivals Inter.

Samu Castillejo teed up Patrick Cutrone to reduce the deficit and the winger was unfortunate not to win a penalty late on, his frustration boiling over in a late lunge on Lo Celso that earned a straight red card.Pepe Reina, standing in for Gianluigi Donnarumma, began an unconvincing performance with a loose pass from the back in the third minute that Sanabria failed to punish.

Not discouraged, the Paraguay striker made amends with a tap-in served to the near post by Lo Celso.Betis could have been out of sight before the break but a contentious offside decision cost Sanabria a second before he shanked a promising volley.

Their sense of injustice grew as Reina used a combination of chest and arm to deal with a ball outside his box, although a let-off did come when Gonzalo Higuain's tentativeness invited Aissa Mandi into a last-ditch challenge with the goal gaping.

There was nothing any goalkeeper could have done about Lo Celso's classy 55th-minute strike, the midfielder spectacularly curling in off the left post from 25 yards.

Castillejo crashed a shot against the upright soon after and, after supplying the pass that substitute Cutrone tapped home in the 83rd minute, was well within his rights to question a challenge from Marc Bartra that could have spared Gattuso from fresh scrutiny, but a poor tackle in stoppage time that prompted his dismissal was hardly the right method of protest.

 

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Sporting CP 0 Arsenal 1: Welbeck keeps Gunners perfect in Group E

Danny Welbeck scored a second-half winner to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory away to Sporting CP in the Europa League on Thursday.Both teams had maximum points on the board after two rounds and they looked set to play out a goalless draw in a mostly low-key affair in Lisbon.

But Welbeck came up with the decisive goal in the 77th minute, rifling a fine finish through the legs of goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro to give Arsenal an 11th straight win in all competitions.


The Gunners move three points clear at the top of Group E, while Sporting are still well-placed to qualify for the knockout stages as they hold a three-point cushion in second spot.Bruno Fernandes fired an early chance over the crossbar for the hosts before Henrikh Mkhitaryan's free-kick was beaten away by Ribeiro.

Nani lashed a drive over the angle before Sporting fans were angered when Sokratis Papastathopoulos appeared to drag Fredy Montero as he raced through on goal, referee Damir Skomina waving the appeals away.Ribeiro twice denied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shortly after the restart with Arsenal upping the tempo.

Welbeck's celebrations after beating Ribeiro with a header were cut short in the 67th minute as official Skomina blew for a push on Bruno Gaspar.

However, he would not be denied again following Sebastian Coates' error, the England forward scoring his second goal in the competition this season to extend Arsenal's streak under three-time Europa League winner Unai Emery.

 

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Chelsea 3 BATE 1: Loftus-Cheek hat-trick sends message to Sarri

Ruben Loftus-Cheek provided a timely reminder of his quality with a fine hat-trick in just his second start of the season as Chelsea sealed a comprehensive 3-1 win over BATE in the Europa League.

The England international has found playing time hard to come by this term, but grasped a rare chance afforded by head coach Maurizio Sarri as the Blues made it three wins from three in Group L to close on the knockout stages.

Loftus-Cheek had not scored a Chelsea goal since April 2016 before pulling off two expert finishes inside the opening eight minutes at Stamford Bridge as a Chelsea team featuring a number of fringe players overwhelmed an inferior BATE side.


The pick of his goals came in the 53rd minute to put the result beyond doubt and, despite Aleksey Rios scoring a late consolation goal for the visitors, he continued to shine on an evening that will go down as one of his best as a Chelsea player.
Davide Zappacosta sped down the right flank in the second minute and cut the ball back to Loftus-Cheek who provided a clinical finish, steering a first-time shot just to the right of goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski without hesitation.

Loftus-Cheek's second was all about his positional play, the 22-year-old arriving ahead of Olivier Giroud to apply a side-footed volley to Willian's corner and again finding the net low to Scherbitski's right.A move that started with Loftus Cheek in his own half saw Pedro burst down the left flank and, when he was dispossessed, Chelsea's home-grown talent was on hand to guide home his hat-trick goal.

Sarri gave 17-year-old winger Callum Hudson-Odoi half an hour as a substitute and he showed glimpses of why he is considered an exciting prospect as the Blues continued to attack.

Though Chelsea switched off for a moment to allow Rios to arrive unmarked and volley Igor Stasevich's cross into the net from close range, it failed to take the shine off a more than satisfactory night for Sarri's men.

 

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Nobody knows just how good Shaqiri can be - Klopp


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has sung the praises of Xherdan Shaqiri, saying the 27-year-old's ceiling is still unknown.

The Reds snapped up the Swiss international for £13 million ($17m) from Stoke City in the summer, and that fee is already looking like a bargain.Shaqiri has started back-to-back games for Liverpool, notching assists in both matches: a 1-0 win over Huddersfield in the Premier League and a 4-0 victory over Red Star in the Champions League.

Klopp praised the 27-year-old after Wednesday's win over Red Star, and has done so again ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against Cardiff City on Saturday.

"I don't think anybody has an idea in the moment how good Shaq can be," the German manager said.Shaqiri has had a nomadic career to date, which has included stops at Basel, Bayern Munich, Inter and Stoke.Klopp recalls watching Shaqiri as a teenager at Bayern during his time managing Borussia Dortmund.

"I knew him when he was 19 at Bayern and he was already an outstanding talent," Klopp said. "He had a good first year, second year he wasn't that good – but that can happen. Then he left. You can disappear a bit. Inter Milan and then Stoke.

"Signing him was a logical thing to do. He's still not the finished article. He still has a lot of space for improvement and that's really good."He gives us something different. So far we haven't really used his set-pieces but they are outstanding."

 

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Tottenham extend Wembley Stadium stay through to 2019


Tottenham will continue to host matches at Wembley Stadium until at least the end of the year as the opening date of their new home venue remains a mystery.

Construction deadlines have been repeatedly missed and chairman Daniel Levy confirmed the delays will push completion into 2019.Grass was laid at the new ground in early October but the club's next eight home fixtures are certain to be played at Wembley after Spurs encountered problems out of their control.

While Tottenham will continue to push for a completion date, the club have decided to extend their Wembley stay to ensure supporters have clarity about their upcoming home matches."I wish I was able to confirm an exact opening date and fixture," the chairman said in a statement.

"However, in light of factors completely outside of our control, contractors missing deadlines and possible future unforeseen issues, we are naturally being cautious in respect of our timetable for our test events and official opening game.

"Whilst we are conscious of the need to keep pressure on our contractors to deliver as soon as possible, we are also acutely aware of how difficult the lack of clarity is for you, our supporters, to plan around games, particularly those at Christmas and New Year.

"In light of the above, and taking into account the restricted availability of manpower over the festive period, we have taken the decision to confirm today that all home games will be played at Wembley Stadium up to and including the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 29 December.

"We know the continued delay is a source of immense disappointment to everyone and I can only continue to apologise for this - it is a sentiment felt by all of us."Levy confirmed a fresh update on progress is expected to be issued in December.

 

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Ter Stegen considered Barcelona exit amid Bravo battle


Marc-Andre ter Stegen has revealed that he considered leaving Barcelona amid his battle with Claudio Bravo to earn starting duties at Camp Nou.

The Germany international moved to Catalunya in 2014 after proving his worth in his homeland with Borussia Monchengladbach.His debut season with Barca saw him fail to make a single La Liga appearance, with cup and Champions League outings providing his only game time.

Ter Stegen did see seven league games in 2015-16, but it was only once Bravo departed for Manchester City that the path cleared for him to become No. 1 and establish a reputation as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football.

The 26-year-old has now admitted that he considered his future at regular intervals when struggling for minutes, telling Club Del Deportista: "It was a situation that cannot be forgotten. As a person who wants to play all the time, like me, it was a very complicated situation. And the competition with Claudio was not easy at all.

“I will not deny that there were times when I was thinking about changing, looking for solutions, because you see that the club say: ‘Do not worry, Marc, you have our confidence, you will be here for many years, we trust in your performance’ . But then you see that reality was not like that.

“With Luis Enrique he talked a lot about it. But of course, he saw that Claudio was also doing a very good job. “After two seasons, the situation demanded a solution. In the end, the club sold Bravo and has clearly positioned itself in my favour.”

Ter Stegen has now made over 150 appearances for Barca, including 13 in the current campaign.

His next could come in a Clasico clash with Real Madrid on Sunday, with that contest still holding plenty of appeal to those involved despite Lionel Messi set to miss out through injury and Cristiano Ronaldo having departed the Blancos for Juventus.

Ter Stegen added on the challenge posed by fierce rivals who no longer boast a five-time Ballon d’Or winner on their books: “I do not notice a single player. Madrid has very good players, with a lot of individual quality. “It is true that Cristiano has scored many goals and has been a very important player for Real Madrid, of course you will notice his departure from the club. You will see how that is solved in the future.

“The important thing for us is to be focused on ourselves and to make the season as successful as we can, with the great team we have, be better than everyone else and achieve our objectives.”

 

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Still no Alexis Sanchez for Man Utd as PSG rumours surface


Alexis Sanchez remains absent from the Manchester United squad amid reports suggesting that he is looking to make a move to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

The Chile international has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford following a January arrival from Arsenal.He did record his fourth goal for the club, and first of the 2018-19 campaign, prior to the last international break as he snatched a dramatic last-minute winner against Newcastle.

Sanchez has, however, seen just five minutes of club football since then, having been introduced late on by Jose Mourinho during a thrilling 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

He played no part in a Champions League defeat to Juventus and, as questions continue to be asked of his working relationship with his manager and future in Manchester, the 29-year-old will also sit out a Premier League home date with Everton on Sunday.

Explaining that absence, Mourinho told reporters: “In this moment he’s struggling because he’s injured and we come to the Chelsea match to try to help the team but his physical condition was not good and then he had to stop and was not available for Juventus and is not available for tomorrow again, so now is to be physically in the best conditions.

“He arrived January, in the first period of the season for him, I don’t think it is ever an easy situation for a player but this season he had a good start, a good pre-season, he started well against Leicester, and then he was injured.“Then he came back and was injured again and he is the kind of player that needs to be really sharp.”

Sanchez is not the only senior figure currently unavailable to Mourinho, with the United boss having once again hit out at international sides for failing to look after his players.

He added: “We play against Newcastle and we go to the national team period in a good situation. Then, after two weeks, we lost [Diogo] Dalot in Portugal, [Marouane] Fellaini in Belgium, we lost Alexis with Chile, we lost who else? [Scott] McTominay with Scotland.

“Some of the national teams were very professional with us and sent the players back and we could start the process early - but some of them wouldn’t and they kept the players and we didn’t even know the dimension and nature of injuries so when the players arrive two days before Chelsea we have no idea of what is going on.

“But we try to solve problems step by step and I think if Jesse [Lingard] can be available and give us some help, McTominay is normally in good condition and we have to wait some more for those other players.”

Lingard has been nursing a groin complaint for some time and has had to be carefully managed by Mourinho.

The United boss added on the England international: “He came from the World Cup with that problem, he thought wrongly that the holiday period would bring things to normality, then he thought wrongly that working would improve it and then he felt in an impossible situation to play football.

“So now he’s going back to do the work to try and be 100 per cent. In this moment he’s almost there because of the team’s needs. Can he help us in the next match? That is the question we have to answer tomorrow or if we wait one more week. He’s almost there.”

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.10.27

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2018.10.27

Brighton Vs Wolves

Fulham Vs Bournemouth

Liverpool Vs Cardiff City

Southampton Vs Newcastle

Watford Vs Huddersfield

Leicester City Vs West Ham

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LA Liga Fixtures 2018.10.27

LA Liga Fixtures 2018.10.27

Girona Vs Rayo Vallecano

Athletic Bilbao Vs Valencia

Celta Vigo Vs Eibar

Levante Vs Leganes

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Sociedad
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Serie A Fixtures 2018.10.27

Serie A Fixtures 2018.10.27

Atalanta Vs Parma

Empoli Vs Juventus

Torino Vs Fiorentina
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Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.10.27

Bundesliga Fixtures 2018.10.27

Dortmund Vs Hertha Berlin

Fortuna Vs Wolfsburg

Hannover Vs Augsburg

Mainz Vs Bayern

Hoffenheim Vs Stuttgart
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Leicester City 1 West Ham 1: Ndidi leveller denies 10-man Hammers


Wilfred Ndidi's late deflected strike salvaged a 1-1 Premier League draw for Leicester City against 10-man West Ham at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Fabian Balbuena had earlier handed the Hammers a first-half lead, scoring his first goal for the club following his move from Corinthians with a close-range finish.Their cause was made more difficult in the 38th minute when Mark Noble received a straight red card for raking his studs down Ndidi's calf.Manuel Pellegrini's side looked like they would withstand Noble's moment of madness, but Ndidi's 89th-minute strike took a significant deflection off Balbuena and spun into Lukasz Fabianski's top corner to ensure a share of the spoils.

Leicester started brightly – Kelechi Iheanacho seeing a strike ruled out for offside after just two minutes – but it was West Ham who carved out the first effort on target, Kasper Schmeichel keeping out Felipe Anderson's low drive.

Robert Snodgrass flashed wide midway through the half from a tight angle, before Balbuena took advantage of some generous Leicester defending to give the Hammers a 30th-minute lead. The Paraguayan reacted quicker than the sluggish Harry Maguire after his initial header cannoned back off the post and prodded past Schmeichel from close range.

Noble then received his marching orders eight minutes later and the hosts almost immediately made their numerical superiority count, Fabianski repelling Vincente Iborra's header.

The Foxes carved out a host of chances shortly after the hour mark, Marc Albrighton's fierce volley kept out by Fabianski, substitute Jamie Vardy heading over from close range and Maguire thumping his own header against the crossbar.

Leicester looked flat in the closing stages, but Ndidi’s strike from distance took a wicked deflection off Balbuena to prevent his side from slipping to a third consecutive defeat.