..::Football IV::..

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    Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 1: Spurs secure Foyth successive win

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    Juan Foyth repaid Mauricio Pochettino's faith by scoring the decisive goal as Tottenham left Crystal Palace with a 1-0 Premier League triumph on Saturday, their fourth in a row across all competitions.

    The young centre-back had received criticism for a difficult Premier League debut in last week's 3-2 win over Wolves, but Pochettino refused to drop Foyth and he subsequently secured the spoils for Spurs in a poor match at sodden Selhurst Park.Chances were few and far between during an unremarkable first half that was more notable for the weather than the standard of football on display.

    The match opened up a little in the second half and Foyth scored his first Spurs goal, making the most of static Palace defending and consigning Roy Hodgson's men to a fifth defeat in six Premier League outings.

    The hosts crafted the first chance of the game through former Spurs winger Andros Townsend in the 16th minute, though his effort hit the side-netting and did not worry Hugo Lloris.Spurs struggled to create opportunities of their own, but Harry Kane did try his luck from distance just after the half-hour and forced Wayne Hennessey into a flying save.

    Palace should have gone ahead early in the second half, but James Tomkins inexplicably headed a corner wide from close range.Foyth did not make the same mistake, however, as the centre-back nodded in after Kane's initial header had been blocked 24th minutes from time.

    Palace squandered their final chance late on when Alexander Sorloth blasted straight at Lloris from about eight yards, leaving Hodgson with his head in his hands as Spurs saw things out.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Atletico Madrid 3 Athletic Bilbao 2: Godin snatches dramatic late winner

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    Diego Godin scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Atletico Madrid came from behind to secure a 3-2 LaLiga win over Athletic Bilbao at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

    Diego Simeone's men fell well short of the standards set in Tuesday's Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund and were fortunate to escape with three points courtesy of some late heroics against a side who have won just once in the league this season.

    Inaki Williams was the star of the show for the visitors, putting his side ahead with a simple tap-in after 36 minutes and then slotting home a second just after Thomas Partey had pulled Atleti level in the second half.


    A surprise victory looked within their grasp, but Rodrigo's header 10 minutes from time and Godin's late intervention – awarded after a VAR review for possible offside – moved Simeone's side up to second, a point behind leaders Barcelona.
    The hosts' first-half sluggishness was punished before the interval when Williams prodded home on the line after Jan Oblak had superbly tipped Mikel San Jose's strike onto the underside of the crossbar.Williams should have added a second shortly before the hour mark, but his low effort was thwarted down low to his right by Oblak.

    The hosts pulled level after 61 minutes when Thomas' stunning 30-yard strike fizzed past Iago Herrerin, Filipe Luis with the assist.Their joy was short-lived, however, as Williams latched onto Iker Muniain's pass three minutes later to break clear of the Atleti backline and clip past the onrushing Oblak.

    Thomas then turned provider for Atleti's leveller after 80 minutes, his cross turned in by Rodrigo, before Godin unleashed wild celebrations – after a short delay for a VAR review – by nodding in Antoine Griezmann's flick on from close range one minute into added time.
     

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    Borussia Dortmund 3 Bayern Munich 2: Super-sub Alcacer settles thrilling Klassiker

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    Paco Alcacer came off the bench to score a wonderful winner as Borussia Dortmund completed a stunning comeback to down Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich 3-2 in a brilliant Klassiker.Marco Reus twice cancelled out Robert Lewandowski goals, but it was Alcacer who struck the decisive blow in the 73rd minute at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

    Dortmund had a four-point cushion to the Bundesliga champions heading into the clash and their seven-point gap will now give them real hope of a title challenge, although they were spared a last-gasp Lewandowski leveller by a correct offside call.


    Bayern coach Niko Kovac insisted pre-match he was not feeling the pressure, but questions may again be asked about his future at the club after their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions ended.

    Reus was recalled to the Germany squad this week and the Dortmund captain should have given the hosts an early lead, hitting a one-on-one chance straight at Manuel Neuer, who had conceded each of his last eight shots on target in the Bundesliga.

    Bayern punished slack Dortmund defending with the opening goal in the 26th minute, Lewandowski drifting between the centre-backs to head home Serge Gnabry's right-wing cross.

    Dortmund started the second half in similar fashion to the first and equalised from the penalty spot in the 49th minute, Reus beating Neuer from 12 yards after being fouled by the goalkeeper.

    But parity lasted only four minutes, Bayern retaking the lead with a breathtakingly beautiful goal.Gnabry had space to shoot but instead backheeled a cute pass to Joshua Kimmich, the right-back's floated cross converted from close range by supreme poacher Lewandowski.

    The Bayern striker had a hat-trick goal ruled out for offside while the champions rode their luck at the other end, Kimmich brilliantly clearing a Reus shot off the line before substitute Alcacer was halted by Jerome Boateng with the goal at his mercy.Dortmund levelled again in the 66th minute, though, Reus connecting with a wonderful first-time finish to rifle home a right-wing Lukasz Piszczek cross.

    And they snatched all three points as Bayern's high defensive line was stretched again, Sancho robbing Franck Ribery to start a move that saw Axel Witsel send Alcacer through to chip Neuer.Bayern thought they had stolen a point in the 95th minute when Lewandowski steered a super backheel past Marwin Hitz, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside.

    But parity lasted only four minutes, Bayern retaking the lead with a breathtakingly beautiful goal.Gnabry had space to shoot but instead backheeled a cute pass to Joshua Kimmich, the right-back's floated cross converted from close range by supreme poacher Lewandowski.

    The Bayern striker had a hat-trick goal ruled out for offside while the champions rode their luck at the other end, Kimmich brilliantly clearing a Reus shot off the line before substitute Alcacer was halted by Jerome Boateng with the goal at his mercy.Dortmund levelled again in the 66th minute, though, Reus connecting with a wonderful first-time finish to rifle home a right-wing Lukasz Piszczek cross.

    And they snatched all three points as Bayern's high defensive line was stretched again, Sancho robbing Franck Ribery to start a move that saw Axel Witsel send Alcacer through to chip Neuer.

    Bayern thought they had stolen a point in the 95th minute when Lewandowski steered a super backheel past Marwin Hitz, but the goal was rightly disallowed for offside.
     

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    :)'If you tease a lion, it will roar' - Inter boss Spalletti defends Mourinho's Juventus taunt


    Inter boss Luciano Spalletti sympathised with Jose Mourinho's emotional reaction to Manchester United's dramatic win at Juventus, saying "if you tease a lion, sooner
    or later it will roar".

    Mourinho has faced intense scrutiny over United's form this season, but saw his side fight back against Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend before producing a hugely impressive turnaround against Juve on Wednesday.

    United were trailing to Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning opener with four minutes remaining, only for Juan Mata's expert free-kick and Leonardo Bonucci's own goal to seal three points in the Champions League Group H encounter.

    Following the full-time whistle, Mourinho entered the Allianz Stadium pitch and cupped his ear towards the home crowd , who he claims had been taunting him due to his time in charge of rivals Inter.

    The incident sparked a reaction from the home players and current Nerazzurri coach Spalletti concedes Mourinho should probably have shown more restraint, but understands his actions.

    "I believe that he himself said after the match that he wouldn't have done it again. I think we all agree on that," he told a news conference ahead of Inter's Serie A trip to Atalanta.

    "However, there is a lot of pressure, especially in certain matches and that starts to build. There is always the scope to react because I do the same job as him and I'm fully aware of that."However, I believe that as long as it goes no further than that, it's all part of the show. Clearly if you tease a lion, sooner or later it will roar. These things can happen."

    It was put to Spalletti, whose side trail Juve by six points in Serie A, that the Bianconeri's defeat could be proof that Massimiliano Allegri's side are not as strong as first thought.But Spalletti rejected such claims and insists Juve are still the benchmark in Italy."I really believe that they are better than everyone else and they will probably be the team that wins the league," he added.

    "However, there are difficulties throughout the course of a league season which could undermine their ability. Therefore all of the other teams must be flawless and they really must try to achieve the impossible. "Individuals have often achieved the impossible with the conviction that they can change the world with a moment of time based on their mental strength and character.

    "The ability to believe and never give up. The capacity to keep going and to always develop I won't give up until the final whistle blows in the 95th minute."

    Inter took a big step towards the Champions League knockout stages with a fine 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona on Tuesday, but the result came at a price with Radja Nainggolan set to miss out on Sunday with a recurrence of an ankle injury.

    "Nainggolan tried to do what we are accustomed to seeing from him. He made himself available and he produced a good performance based on what he was capable of doing," he said.

    "However, he has taken a step back with regards to his fitness in terms of the injury he was carrying. I think it's unlikely he will be involved, nevertheless we should also credit him for wanting to be involved in the match."
     

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    Juventus defender Bonucci to be surprisingly benched for Milan clash


    Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is set to begin Sunday's clash against former club AC Milan on the bench, Goal understands.

    Bonucci has started 10 of Juve's 11 Serie A matches this season, with the Old Lady beginning the season with 10 wins and one draw in those games.Sunday will see Juventus put their unbeaten record on the line at San Siro, with Milan looking to cause an upset.

    But sources tell Goal that Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has decided to start Mehdi Benatia instead of Bonucci, with the Morocco international understood to have lined up with the first-team defence in Saturday's training session, meaning he will likely be in the starting side on Sunday.

    Benatia will partner Giorgio Chiellini in central defence, with Joao Cancelo and Alex Sandro on either side of the pair. It will be just the fifth start of the season for Benatia, who has been second choice for much of the campaign.

    Bonucci was expecting a torrid time from the San Siro faithful, after he spent last season with the Rossoneri before making an immediate return to Juventus. Meanwhile Gonzalo Higuain, who went the other way in that exchange, has been passed fit to face his former club on Sunday.

    Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri said ahead of the encounter that neither of the stars set to face their former club needed his advice heading into the tie, and that both clubs had made great signings.“I don’t have any advice to give to Bonucci," he said. "He returns to Milan, having only been there for a year, but Leo doesn’t need my advice."

    Allegri also stated that Mario Mandzukic "could well play" in the match despite likely needing a rest, with Blaise Matuidi in much the same boat, though he admitted that had Emre Can been available he likely would have given Matuidi a break.

    Juventus are looking to take a six-point lead into the international break, which the club will do with a win on Sunday.

    Milan are currently in fourth place in Serie A, 10 points behind Allegri's table-topping side and four back of third-placed Inter, who take on Atalanta on Sunday.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Guardiola defends 'incredible' Sterling after penalty controversy


    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Raheem Sterling has received unfair criticism following a controversial penalty incident against Shakhtar Donetsk.

    Sterling tripped when through on goal during City's rampant 6-0 win over the Ukrainian champions, having kicked the turf when shaping to shoot.Referee Viktor Kassai incorrectly ruled that the England winger had been felled by Mykola Matvyenko, however, awarding a penalty that Gabriel Jesus converted.

    Sterling subsequently apologised for not informing the referee of his mistake, although Guardiola insisted that the City forward, who has signed a contract extension until 2023, was right not to do so.

    And, ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, Guardiola has again come to the 23-year-old's defence."I think this time I realised it's unfair because I don't know why you should criticise Raheem," Guardiola told a news conference.

    "It's not diving either. Tripping is a mistake, it was a bad decision of the referee.
    "He's an incredible guy, he does absolutely everything on the pitch, fighting in front and he made a mistake because he's 23 years old.

    "He maybe goes too fast, maybe he has to do it slower. Believe me, what the people said about this action I didn't understand.
    "He will become stronger, he's stronger than when we met each other in the first year. Now, he controls these emotions much, much better."
     

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    Manchester City Vs Manchester United
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    Manchester City Starting Line-up

    Ederson
    Walker
    Stones
    Laporte
    Mendy
    Fernandinho
    Mahrez
    D. Silva
    Bernardo
    Sterling
    Aguero


    &

    Manchester United Starting Line-up

    De Gea
    Young
    Smalling
    Lindelof
    Shaw
    Matic
    Herrera
    Fellaini
    Lingard
    Martial
    Rashford