SPORTS UPDATE

[Edoman]

[b]Arsenal Knocked Out Of The Europa League By Last Minute Away Goal


Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a glaring chance with the last kick of the match as Arsenal crashed to a shocking Europa League defeat at the hands of Olympiakos.[/b]

Aubameyang, so often the Gunners' saviour, looked like he had once again rescued his side from an abject showing when his superb scissor kick - which cancelled out Pape Abou Cisse's opener - put them in the driving seat with seven minutes left of extra time.

But the visitors punished awful set-piece defending for a second time on the night as Youssef El Arabi poked home in front of their raucous travelling fans.

And there was still time for the unmarked Aubameyang to somehow screw wide from five yards out and condemn Mikel Arteta's side to their first defeat of 2020.

For large periods of a flat game a full-strength Arsenal XI were frustrated, frustrating and feeble in front of goal - with their first shot on target not arriving until the 77th minute.

Olympiakos were hardly buccaneering in their approach, especially considering they had lost the first leg in Athens, but carried out their gameplan perfectly to steal a famous win and progress to the last 16.

Limp Gunners lose route to Champions League
Arteta had talked in the build-up of having three routes into Europe for next season but this competition was surely his best bet of an unlikely seat at the Champions League top table.

To go out in such limp fashion will leave the manager livid - and for most of the night he was the most animated member of the Arsenal contingent.

Familiar failings were their undoing as the Greek side twice scored from set-pieces.

First, Aubameyang allowed 6ft 6ins centre-back Cisse a totally free header from a corner, and then David Luiz appeared to leave a cross from a half-cleared 120th-minute corner and gift El Arabi a lunging tap-in.

Olympiakos came to defend deep and in numbers, to frustrate Arsenal and then to hopefully score from a corner. It was a strategy they pulled off impeccably.

But they must have expected an Arsenal forward line of Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe - recruited at a cost of around £215m - to cause more problems.

The four managed just one shot on target between them before Aubameyang's brilliant late goal that briefly had Arsenal progressing.

Ozil's cross was nodded on by substitute Gabriel Martinelli and the Gabon striker rearranged himself masterfully to crack an acrobatic effort into the back of the net.

The home fans, who greeted the full-time whistle with apathy rather than anger, roared into belated life but it was the supporters at the other end who will now have their eyes on Friday's draw.

'We had a lot of intentions in this competition'
Arsenal looked to have done the hard part last week when they ground out a 1-0 win in Greece. After all, the club had progressed from all 17 of their European ties when winning the first leg away from home.

But from early on they looked short of ideas and moved the ball so slowly across midfield.

For all the money spent up front the most likely route to goal all night looked like coming through teenage left-back Bukayo Saka, a constant outlet, but when he did provide a beautiful cross at the end of Arsenal's best move of the game, Lacazette was offside as he converted from close range.

Saka and Pepe - a deeply frustrating figure to watch - both put in nine crosses but they were easy to defend.

Arteta could point to decisions that did not go his side's way - a yellow card shown to Ousseynou Ba for a foul on the edge of the area could have been red, and an offside flag that could have been raised in the build-up to Olympiakos' winner.

But the truth is Arsenal just did not create enough to win. Arsenal had won three in a row coming into the game and this was their first defeat in 11, but there is still much to be done.

"It hurts a lot. We had a lot of intentions in this competition," Arteta said.

"We were in control but conceded a set-piece to put us in a difficult position. We created a lot of chances and got ourselves in a good position. If you concede four goals from set-pieces in two games it makes it very difficult."

To add injury to insult, Arsenal also lost defender Shkodran Mustafi to a hamstring problem.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51623263

[Edoman]

Europa League round of 16 draw released

 February 28, 2020


The draw for the 2019/2020 UEFA Europa League round of 16 has been released.



The draw, which was streamed on the UEFA website, was released on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland.
See full fixtures below:



İstanbul Başakşehir vs Copenhagen

Olympiacos vs Wolves

Rangers vs Leverkusen



Wolfsburg vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Internazionale vs Getafe

Sevilla vs Roma



Eintracht Frankfurt/FC 

Salzburg vs Basel

LASK vs Man United

[Edoman]

EPL: Solskjaer updates on Martial, Ighalo ahead of Everton, Man Utd clash

 February 28, 2020


Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has provided the latest injury update on forward, Anthony Martial, ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday.



He also disclosed that striker, Odion Ighalo is ready to feature against Everton at Goodison Park after scoring a goal in Man United’s Europa League round of 32 second-leg 5-0 win against Club Brugge on Thursday night at Old Trafford.

Speaking ahead of Man United’s clash with Everton, Solskjaer said as quoted by Man United’s official website on Friday: “Martial went off during yesterday’s training and had treatment.



“He reported this morning and had a fitness test.
“It’s not his hamstring, it’s his thigh, in and around the knee.
“Ighalo has shown what type of striker he is. He will be ready for Sunday.”



The match between Everton and Man United is at 3 pm, Nigeria.

[Edoman]

Coronavirus: Juventus to play Inter Milan behind closed doors

 February 28, 2020


Sunday’s Serie A fixture between Juventus and Inter Milan will be played behind close doors because of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.



DAILY POST recalls that confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, has been reported in Italy as more than 400 people have been infected. Almost all the cases are reported in northern Italy.

Juventus confirmed this in a statement on its official website on Thursday.



Maurizio Sarri’s men head to the game following a 1-0 defeat to Lyon in the Champions League round of 16 first leg encounter on Wednesday.

“Juventus vs. Inter, scheduled for 20:45 on Sunday 1 March at the Allianz Stadium, will be played behind closed doors,” a club statement read.

“Lega Serie A communicated, in compliance with the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers from 25 February 2020, further implementing provisions of the decree-law from 23 February 2020, n. 6, containing urgent measures regarding the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency that is COVID-19.”



The match venue is at the Allianz Stadium, and the kick-off is at 8:45 pm.

[Edoman]

Nigerian footballer, King Udoh, tests positive to Coronavirus in Italy







22-year-old Italian-Nigerian footballer, King Udoh, has tested positive to the coronavirus (Covid-19).
 
According to reports, Udoh who plays professional football with Pianese, an Italian Serie C side team, is currently in the infectious disease department of La Scotte hospital in Siena and is said to be in good condition. They quarantined him last weekend after he started feeling feverish.
 
Italy is the European country most affected by the Coronavirus epidemic.

[Edoman]

BREAKING: EPL: Watford destroy Liverpool’s unbeaten run
February 29, 2020

[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Watford.jpg]

Watford FC proved to be the giant killers on Saturday by beating run-away EPL leaders, Liverpool unbeaten run.

The relegation-threatened team beat the EPL leaders, breaking the Meyerside side’s 18-match consecutive wins.

Details shortly…

[Edoman]

Bayern players’ keep-ball protest over banner
March 1, 2020

[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BAYERN-Munich.jpg]

BAYERN Munich’s 6-0 win at Hoffenheim ended in bizarre fashion on Saturday when both teams played keep-ball as a protest after travelling fans unfurled an offensive banner aimed at the Hoffenheim owner.

The Bundesliga leaders were cruising to their ninth win in their last ten league games at the PreZero Arena when the away section displayed a banner insulting Dietmar Hopp in the 67th minute.

It was put away after Bayern players, coaches and staff hurried over to the away section to plead with their fans, but was then rolled out again ten minutes later as the same Bayern contingent confronted the travelling fans once more.

Referee Bastian Dankert stopped play for five minutes and sent both teams to the changing rooms as part of the second step of the German FA’s three-stage protocol for an official break in play, with the game in serious risk of abandonment had the banner been displayed a third time.

 

The clash ended in farcical scenes as both sets of players agreed to pass the ball between each other for the remaining 13 minutes as the clock ticked down in support of Hopp – who watched on from the stands and received an immediate apology from Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

According to Sky in Germany, the control committee of the German Football Association (DFB) will open an investigation into the incident early next week – but the result will stand as the match was effectively completed.

The Hoffenheim owner is a divisive figure in German football, having bankrolled the Sinsheim club from the fifth tier up to the Bundesliga and being an exception to the 50+1 rule stating fans must own the majority of their club’s shares.

[Edoman]

Liverpool unbeaten EPL run ends with shock Watford defeat
•Watford forward Ismaila Sarr peeled away in celebration after breaking the deadlock against Jurgen Klopp's high-flying side
March 1, 2020

[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/tomentor-in-chief-Sarr.jpg]

WATFORD caused a monumental upset after becoming the first team to beat Liverpool in the Premier League this season with Ismaila Sarr’s second-half double helping to condemn the league leaders to a stunning 3-0 loss at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Sarr nipped in to break the deadlock after 54 minutes, before then racing through to double the Hornets’ lead six minutes later.

Watford captain Troy Deeney rounded off the incredible scoreline after taking advantage of yet more sluggish defending from the visitors with 18 minutes left to play.

Nigel Pearson’s side move out of the relegation zone thanks to a first league win since December 28, while Liverpool remain 22 points ahead of Manchester City, albeit having now played a game more than the champions.

Liverpool arrived in Hertfordshire needing just four more wins to claim a first top-flight title in 30 years, not that you would have known it from the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors produced a strangely laboured and disjointed display before the break as Watford – who started the match a massive 55 points behind the league leaders – harried them into distraction.

The returning Dejan Lovren – in for injured centre-back Joe Gomez for his first league start since December 7 – in particular looked rusty at the heart of the back-line in the first half, with Watford unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time.

Gerard Deulofeu curled one early effort inches over the bar, while minutes later Abdoulaye Doucoure saw his close-range effort crucially blocked by Virgil van Dijk as the home team looked to get after their opponents.

It was Deulofeu who was causing Liverpool’s defence most problems, that is until the Spanish forward came off worse after a clash with Van Dijk just past the half-hour mark that saw the influential player stretchered off.

Watford came desperately close to taking the lead in first-half stoppage time after a scramble in the box saw Alisson spill the ball straight at the feet of Deeney, only for the Brazilian to make amends by reacting smartly to then block the striker’s close-range effort.

Lovren allowed a long throw to bounce in the box without realising Doucoure was behind him, with the midfielder then squaring for Sarr to convert from close range and the forward soon had a second.

[Edoman]

Lazio go top in Italy for first time since 2010
March 1, 2020

[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/LAZIO.jpg]

LAZIO went top of the Serie A table for the first time in almost a decade thanks to victory over Bologna.

They took advantage of the fact previous leaders Juventus’ game against third-placed Inter Milan on Sunday was postponed because of coronavirus.

Luis Alberto gave Lazio the lead from just outside the box from Ciro Immobile’s pass and then set up Joaquin Correa’s deflected strike.

Bologna had two goals disallowed by the video assistant referee.

Stefano Denswil’s effort was ruled out for handball, with Takehiro Tomiyasu penalised for offside.

Lazio last topped the Serie A table after 10 games in 2010-11. The last time they were top in the second half of a season was when they won the league in 1999-2000, which was only their second Italian title.

Simone Inzaghi’s side are two points above Juve – having played a game more – and could go five points clear next Saturday at Atalanta, with Juventus not playing Bologna until Sunday.

The last time anyone other than Juventus won the Italian title was 2010-11 when AC Milan finished top.

[Edoman]

El Clasico: Real Madrid, Barcelona in title deciding clash
March 1, 2020

[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/El-Clasico-2020.jpg]

ONE of the world’s most famous sporting rivalries takes centre stage once again on Sunday (night) as Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns at the Santiago Bernabeu in the latest installment of the Clasico derby.

This high-profile meeting between fierce rivals carries extra significance given the current state of the LaLiga title race, with Quique Setien’s Barca holding a two-point advantage over Los Blancos, who were knocked off top spot last weekend courtesy of a shock defeat at Levante.

Another loss this weekend is likely to prove fatal to Real’s hopes of claiming a first domestic title since 2017.

Real Madrid remain without Eden Hazard, who suffered a hairline fracture in his right fibula during the loss at Levante.

Marco Asensio is yet to return from an anterior cruciate ligament tear, while Rodrygo is suspended after being sent off playing for Real Madrid Castilla.

Jordi Alba is back in first-team training for Barcelona and Gerard Pique could feature despite a sprained ankle sustained in the Champions League draw against Napoli.

The visitors are definitely without Sergi Roberto, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday his side are in a delicate situation as they prepare to host arch rivals Barcelona in a La Liga title showdown on Sunday amid a downward spiral of results which has left their season in limbo.

Zidane’s side held a three-point lead over Barca at the top of the table two weeks ago but defeat to the Catalans would see them slip five points behind them with 12 games remaining.

Their hopes of remaining in the Champions League meanwhile are hanging by a thread after Wednesday’s last-16 first leg against Manchester City in which they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1.

“We will need our fans on our side from the first to last minute. I can understand why our fans are upset but we need them and they need us and at the very least we will give everything on the pitch,” Zidane told a news conference ahead of today’s ‘Clasico’.

[Edoman]

Alonso double earns Chelsea point at Bournemouth
March 1, 2020

[/url]

MARCOS Alonso

[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MARCOS-Alonso.jpeg]

MARCOS Alonso scored twice as Chelsea came from behind to earn a point against struggling Bournemouth in an entertaining encounter at Vitality Stadium.

Wing-back Alonso followed in Olivier Giroud’s shot which had come back off the bar to open the scoring in the 33rd minute and struck again five minutes from time to rescue the Blues, whose top-four aspirations were dealt another blow.

It could have been much worse, however, after Eddie Howe’s side scored twice in three second-half minutes through Jefferson Lerma and Joshua King to leave the visitors stunned.

The Cherries, who remain two points above the Premier League relegation places, had made an excellent start but midfielder Philip Billing spurned two glorious opportunities inside the opening five minutes before Chelsea took control.

In a reversal of the first half, Giroud should have doubled Chelsea’s advantage within minutes of the restart, but Lerma’s 54th-minute equaliser saw another momentum swing.

The hosts fought hard defensively to protect their slender lead, but Chelsea’s late pressure eventually told as Alonso popped up in the right place once again.

The draw sees Chelsea edge four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, who face Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

[Edoman]

West Ham out of bottom three after Southampton victory
March 1, 2020


[/url]
[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/West-Ham.jpg]

 

WEST Ham’s first Premier League win in two months was enough to take them out of the relegation zone as £20m Jarrod Bowen marked his full debut with a goal against Southampton.

Sebastian Haller and Michail Antonio were also on target at the London Stadium after teenage forward Michael Obafemi had levelled Bowen’s opener for the Saints.

The excellent Antonio might have had another for the hosts after he had been sent free by an audacious rabona from Haller but goalkeeper Alex McCarthy made the save.

 

Unlike their last home game against Brighton, when they squandered a 3-1 lead, this time the Hammers eased home, moving above Aston Villa with a much-needed victory after a run of two points from their last seven games.

The result was also positive for co-chairman David Sullivan and David Gold given the protest against them that took place before the game by thousands of Hammers fans, angry at the way the club is being run.

A lot of haggling took place before Bowen’s January transfer deadline-day move from Hull finally went through. The striker even had his medical in Yorkshire just in case the deal was not completed and he was required for duty in the Championship the following day.

[Edoman]

Eze shines as QPR hold Birmingham
March 1, 2020

[/url]

EBERECHI Eze

[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EBERECHI-Eze.jpg]

 

EBERECHI Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel were in action as Queens Park Rangers played out a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City in yesterday’s Championship game.

Eze continued his consistent form for QPR, featuring in his 36th league game this season and played a prominent role to help his side avoid defeat in front of their own fans. The Super Eagles target struck four shots, the joint highest along with Birmingham’s Scott Hogan, with one hitting the target and had an 89% successful pass rate in the encounter.

Osayi-Samuel also shone in the game, with his dazzling displays, completing four dribbles and firing one shot which missed the target by a whisker.

Hogan’s brace cancelled out Marc  Pugh and Jordan Hugill’s strikes to deny QPR maximum points.

Eze, who has 11 league goals this season, featured for the duration of the game along with his Anglo-Nigerian counterpart Osayi-Samuel.

With the result, Queens Park Rangers are 14th in the Championship table with 47 points from 36 games.

Eze and Osayi-Samuel will hope to help QPR return to winning ways when they take on Preston North End in their next league game on March 7.

[Edoman]

Ayew strike sees Palace pile pressure on Brighton
March 1, 2020

[/url]

JORDAN Ayew

[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JORDAN-Ayews.jpg]

JORDAN Ayew’s goal lifted Crystal Palace to a 1-0 victory at Brighton in the Premier League that left the hosts still looking for their first win of 2020.

Yesterday’s loss at their Amex Stadium ground meant Brighton have drawn five and lost four of their last nine games in all competitions since their victory over local south coast rivals Bournemouth on December 28.

The Seagulls are the only club in English football’s top four divisions without a victory in the calendar year and this loss left them just four points above the relegation zone.

Palace, by contrast, remain comfortably in mid-table, with the London club, managed by former England boss Roy Hodgson, 12 points from the bottom three.

It was an all too familiar story for Brighton, who’ve won just once in their past 14 matches.

[Edoman]

Sancho nets Dortmund lone goal against Freiburg
March 1, 2020

[/url]

ENGLAND teenager Jadon Sancho

[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ENGLAND-teenager-Jadon-Sancho.jpg]

ENGLAND teenager Jadon Sancho scored in a seventh consecutive home Bundesliga appearance as Borussia Dortmund beat Freiburg.

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – now at Arsenal – has ever had a longer run for the club, with 11 home goals in a row.

Sancho tapped home Thorgan Hazard’s cross from six yards out for the game’s only goal.

The 19-year-old winger has now scored 14 goals and assisted another 14 in the league this season.

Dortmund remain third, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

In-form Erling Braut Haaland came on in the 63rd minute and failed to score in a home league match for the first time since September 2018 when his Molde side lost to Rosenborg in Norway’s top flight.

[Edoman]

Arsenal players must support Aubameyang, says Arteta
March 1, 2020

[/url]

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

[url=https://thenationonlineng.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang.jpg]

 

MIKEL Arteta believes Arsenal have to rally around “gutted” Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as he seeks to put his late miss in Thursday’s Europa League exit behind him.

The 30-year-old was unable to convert a glorious late chance, allowing Olympiacos to dump the Gunners out at the last 32 stage.

Aubameyang is the Premier League’s joint topscorer with 17 goals and had earlier looked to have salvaged a disappointing performance against the Greek Super League leaders with an acrobatic back-post volley, before Youssef El Arabi’s 119th-minute strike.

Aubameyang was visibly distraught afterwards, admitting “I don’t know how I missed” and Arteta urged his team-mates to support the striker as they prepare for Monday’s FA Cup fifth round trip to Portsmouth.

“He was gutted,” said Arteta. “Obviously he scored a wonder goal that was putting us through in the competition, and with the last kick of the game, he had the best chance of the game.

“He felt very responsible about it, we will try to be right behind him. He has been phenomenal all season for us and now the players have to support him, I think his reaction after the game – to face the media and the way he talked, it was a very mature reaction from him.

“It is part of the profession. We can fall and have disappointments, it is about how we react individually and collectively. Then my job is to try to convince them that in the process in which we are at the moment, there are a lot of positive things and as well things we have to improve if we want to much better as a team. So, that is the way.”

[Edoman]

Anthony Joshua to fight Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June






British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua's next opponent has been confirmed as Kubrat Pulev, and the fight will take place in June 2020 at Tottenham's new stadium.
                                           
 
Bulgarian fighter Pulev also known as ''The cobra'' confirmed the fight against the world IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion on Monday.
 
Pulev, 38, and a former European amateur super-heavyweight champion said

“The contract is already officially signed,” Pulev said on his Facebook page. “I am happy to be able to show the world how strong I am.”

A third fight between WBC and Lineal Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and American boxer Deontay Wilder is on and set for July, and if Joshua beats Pulev he could be in line for an all-British title unification fight against Tyson Fury.

Joshua last fought in London in September 2018 when he beat Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium and since then has had two fights against Andy Ruiz in USA and Saudi Arabia respectively.
 

[Edoman]

LaLiga: Real Madrid outclass Barcelona in El Clasico to go top

 March 2, 2020


Real Madrid went top of the LaLiga table on Sunday night, following a 2-0 win over bitter rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.



Los Blancos came into the latest El Clasico fixture two points behind Barca, having lost 2-1 to Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.
However, Zinedine Zidane’s men breathed life into the title race in Spain, with a fine display against the Catalans.



Vinicius Junior and Mariano Diaz scored in the second half to seal a big win for Madrid.

The victory sees them go one point clear of Barca at the top of the Liga table and also gave them the better head-to-head record, which could be crucial in such a tight title race.

[Edoman]

EPL: Solskjaer reacts as Man United failed to beat Everton, hails Bruno Fernandes

 March 1, 2020


Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has reacted to his side’s Premier League 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday.



The Norwegian also hailed midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, following the Portuguese’ impressive display against Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ensured both Man United and Everton shared a point each at Goodison Park.



“Fernandes is a good player, and we have been missing somebody like him to do that for us, I am very pleased with his contribution today,” Solskjaer told BBC Sport.
“The match was a game of two halves – first half, we were outstanding,” Solskjaer added.

“We played excellent football, and we should have been leading at half time, we could have won it in the end.



“We defended all second half and pleased with a point.
“One point each is what both teams deserve we had the first half, and they had the second.”

[Edoman]

Champions League: Ronaldo, Dybala caught on camera criticizing Juventus team-mates

 March 2, 2020


Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala have been caught on camera, criticizing their Juventus team-mates, during their Champions League last-16 defeat against Lyon.


The two forwards were filmed at half-time chatting and could be overheard bemoaning a lack of support from the midfielders.
RMC Sport released the video on Sunday, which was taken in the tunnel.

“We are left alone out there, the midfielders are giving us no support,” Ronaldo told Dybala.
The Argentine replied: ‘Nobody is getting the ball.’
And Ronaldo fired back, saying: “I know, not even the second balls, nothing.”

Lucas Tousart scored the only goal of the game in the first half, as Lyon won the first leg 1-0 in France.