Sports Updates

[Edoman]

West Ham 1-3 Manchester United: Pogba, Greenwood inspire latest Red Devils fightback



5 December 2020, 





Fabulous second-half goals from Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood helped Manchester United come from behind again and claim a 3-1 Premier League victory at West Ham.


Having won 3-2 from two goals down at Southampton last weekend and also conceding first in a 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were abject during the first half.


Tomas Soucek's 38th-minute opener was the least West Ham deserved and glorious chances were spurned by Sebastien Haller and Jarrod Bowen either side of half-time, when Solskjaer slung on Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in place of Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.


Fernandes laid on the hitherto ineffective Pogba for a sumptuous 25-yard equaliser before exquisite finishes from Greenwood and Rashford put away a deflated West Ham.


Bowen was a constant threat during early stages and skipped past Scott McTominay and Alex Telles before crossing for Pablo Fornals to head into the side netting in the 32nd minute.


Fornals then prodded against the post and the pressure soon told - Soucek left unmarked to convert Declan Rice's flick on from Aaron Creswell's corner.


Haller inexplicably lost his footing with the chance to double West Ham's lead and a stunning recovery tackle from Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Bowen helped Solskjaer's men escape to the dressing rooms with minimal damage.


Bowen should have claimed the goal his endeavours merited in the 52nd minute but failed to slide in Vladimir Coufal's cross at the back post.


McTominay's shot into the side netting shortly afterwards demonstrated how West Ham might pay for their wastefulness and Pogba's sublime 65th-minute strike levelled matters - goalkeeper Dean Henderson having found Fernandes with a raking ball that Hammers boss David Moyes felt curled out of play.


The turnaround was complete three minutes later as Greenwood brilliantly flicked Telles' cross onto his left foot for an emphatic finish.


Rashford should have put the result beyond doubt when Fernandes slid him through but the England forward scuffed his strike against the base of the left post.


He made no such in the 78th minute, chipping past Lukasz Fabianski after Juan Mata, on for the injured Anthony Martial, unlocked the hosts.

[Edoman]

Inter 3-1 Bologna: Hakimi strikes twice to close the gap on Milan


By Patric Ridge
5 December 2020, 22:42



Inter closed the gap on Serie A leaders Milan as Achraf Hakimi scored twice to help Antonio Conte's team to a 3-1 victory over Bologna.


With Milan not playing until Sunday, Inter took the chance to move to within two points of their city rivals as they claimed a third straight league win.
Romelu Lukaku got the ball rolling with his 12th goal of the season in all competitions, before Marcelo Brozovic's sublime pass played in Hakimi for a second.


Emanuel Vignato's 67th-minute goal threatened to make things tense for Inter, but Hakimi's second – a fine finish at the culmination of a fantastic run infield – wrapped things up.


Inter's early dominance told 16 minutes in when, having initially missed his attempted volley from Ivan Perisic's cross, Lukaku reacted sharply to curl a finish into the top-left corner, with covering defender Danilo only able to help it in.


Lukaku should have doubled Inter's tally just after the half-hour, but a heavy touch allowed Lukasz Skorupski to make a brave stop.


Inter did get their second on the stroke of half-time, however – Hakimi cruising in behind Bologna's defence and coolly side-footing in his second Serie A goal after latching onto Brozovic's inch-perfect pass.


Another chance went begging for Lukaku after the restart, the Belgian just failing to sweep home after Alessandro Bastoni had flicked on Brozovic's cross.


Lukaku turned provider when he teed up Alexis Sanchez, but Skorupski once more stood firm in a one-on-one.


Bologna's goalkeeper rushed out to deny Lukaku again on the hour and Sinisa Mihajlovic's side – looking to win consecutive Serie A games against Inter for the first time since 1999 – made it count when Vignato lashed in from close range.


Yet the contest was all but settled three minutes later as Hakimi cut in on his left foot and drilled in a low finish that Skorupski failed to get enough on.


What does it mean? Inter on track in title race, but Champions League prospects hang by a thread
Inter muscled their way to a 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek and have now won four of their last five in all competitions.


It is an impressive run, but Conte must now ensure the Nerazzurri, who managed 14 attempts but allowed Bologna to have the same, take that form into a vital Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.


Lukaku matches another Inter record
Lukaku enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign, with his tally of 34 goals in all competitions matching Ronaldo's haul from the 1997-98 season.


Lukaku has now netted more than seven goals before the 11th league game of a season for the first time in his career, while also joining Christian Vieri as the only Inter players to have scored in all of his first four Serie A appearances at San Siro in a single season in the three-points-per-win era.
Hakimi comes to the fore


Former Real Madrid youngster Hakimi established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe over the course of a two-year loan spell with Borussia Dortmund, though the Moroccan has had an inconsistent start in Italy.


The 22-year-old stepped up in style on Saturday with two clinical finishes, however, becoming the youngest defender to score a brace in the big five European leagues in 2020-21.


What's next?

Inter need a victory over Shakhtar on Wednesday if they are to stand a chance of progressing from Champions League Group B. Bologna, meanwhile, face Roma on Sunday in their next Serie A outing.

[Edoman]

Jese Rodriguez sacked by PSG in wake of sex scandal and allegation he cheated on his partner with her friend











Spanish striker, Jese Rodriguez has had his Paris Saint-Germain contract terminated after a sex scandal
 
The 27-year-old was accused of cheating on his partner Aurah Ruiz with her model friend, Rocio Amar.  
 

 
Amar reportedly posted audio clips to Instagram in which Jese calls Ruiz, who is the mother of his child, 'crazy' and 'boring'. She also recounted ‘sexual encounters’ that she had with the footballer in a Madrid nightclub.
 

 
Most recently, Jese Rodriguez was pictured last month at a party in Gran Canaria ignoring social distancing rules and not wearing a face mask.
 
According to Mail Online, PSG ended his contract two months early with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi tired of his personal life damaging the image of the club.
 
A club statement read: 'Paris Saint-Germain and Jese have agreed to terminate the player's contract, which expires on June 30, 2021.
 
'Aged 27, the native of Las Palmas (Canary Islands) arrived in Paris during the summer of 2016. In the Red and Blue jersey, Jese will have played 18 games and scored 2 goals, in all competitions, winning 1 Championship of France (2020), 1 Coupe de la Ligue (2017) and 1 Champions Trophy (2017).
 
'Paris Saint-Germain wish Jese the best in the rest of his professional career.'
 
Jese joined PSG from Real Madrid in 2016 but never settled in the French capital, making just 18 appearances and scoring twice. In that time, he went out on loan four times to Las Palmas, Stoke City, Real Betis, and Sporting CP respectively.
 

[Edoman]

Arsenal Off To Worst League Start In 39 Years After North London Derby Defeat


The Gunners were condemned to their sixth Premier League reverse of the new campaign, making some unwanted history in the process
Arsenal's woes were deepened in defeat on Sunday as their north London derby loss to Tottenhamcontinued to pile the pressure on Mikel Arteta, leaving the club facing their worst league start for almost four decades.

The Gunners were condemned to their sixth Premier League reverse of the new campaign, leaving them closer to the relegation zone than to the summit thanks to goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.

With almost a dozen top-flight games under their belt already, Arteta's side look to be facing an uphill battle to secure a top-six berth once more, having only qualified for this year's Europa Leaguethrough their FA Cupvictory in August.

Since their triumph at Wembley however, it has been a relatively torrid few months on the domestic front, with three wins from their opening four matches having since translated to just one in their last seven in the league.

A lone point against recently promoted Leeds Unitedis the pick of the bunch in terms of positive results, with the Gunners having lost to Aston Villa, Wolvesand Spurs since they last won, against Manchester Unitedat the start of November.

Those results mean that Arsenal have earned just 13 points from 11 league games this season, their lowest return at this stage of a top-flight campaign for 39 years, since 1981-82 when they achieved 12.

In defeat to Jose Mourinho too, Arteta became just the second Arsenal manager to lose each of his first two north London derbies for over half a century, after Bertie Mee in 1966-67.
The manner of the club's defeat against their rivals - in a game they statistically dominated, with 70 per cent of possession throughout - will rankle the Spaniard too, particularly given his side's creativity throughout.

Arsenal attempted 32 open-play crosses in total, their most in a single Premier League match for almost five years, since February 2016 against Leicester when they managed 36.

It also represented their most away from home for the better part of a decade, since March 2011 when they also logged 32 attempts against West Bromat the Hawthorns.

https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/arsenal-off-to-worst-league-start-in-39-years-after-north-london-/b2rtfqsh9eqg1uf2u4cqwzbo4

[Edoman]

Simplicity is genius – Mourinho hails Hojbjerg after derby win



6 December 2020, 


Jose Mourinho labelled Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg a "phenomenal player" after Tottenham's derby win over Arsenal on Sunday.


Son Heung-min and Harry Kane combined twice as Spurs recorded a 2-0 win in the north London derby to remain top of the Premier League.


Hojbjerg, an August arrival from Southampton for a reported £15million plus add-ons, played a key role.


The midfielder had more touches (61), passes (44), successful passes (35), passes in the opposition half (15) and interceptions (three) than any other Spurs player.


Hojbjerg's performance earned praise from Spurs boss Mourinho, with the 25-year-old also having Tottenham's only other shot on target.


"Pierre is, first of all, very intelligent. He reads the game very well. He's going to be a coach one day, for sure," Mourinho told a news conference.


"He's a pain, asking questions about why we do this and why we do that. On the pitch, he reads the situation very, very well and the people that surround him are really compact, they read the game.


"Physically he's very, very strong and technically he's much better than people think. Because sometimes people think the guy that is good technically is the guy that does the backheel. The guy that is good technically is the guy that does something wonderful. But these are not my words. These are words from coaches of 30, 40 years ago. Simplicity is genius.


"And the guy is so simple in everything he does with the ball. And I think he's a phenomenal player. Congratulations, Mr. [Daniel] Levy [Spurs chairman]."


Of midfielders, only Manchester City's Rodri (746) has made more successful passes than Hojbjerg (706) in the Premier League this season.


Hojbjerg also ranks fourth for successful passes in the opposition half (341) and while his five chances created are also below the likes of Rodri (11), he has created two big chances to the Spaniard's zero.


He helped Spurs come through games against City, Chelsea and Arsenal with seven points, and with their title chances seemingly boosted.


Tottenham have also kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League and Mourinho called for his side to continue their run of form.


"We can lose everywhere. In the Premier League, we can lose everywhere. We can go to any place and lose. Any team can come here and beat us," he said.


"Of course, people could expect these last three matches. Now, three points, four points, or six with one loss. Now we did seven.


"We didn't concede one against phenomenal teams. Of course, we are in a good moment and the team is strong also, mentally, but you know, nothing changes."

[Edoman]

Sampdoria 1-2 Milan: Kessie and Castillejo clinch gritty win



6 December 2020, 




Milan strengthened their grip on top spot in Serie A with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria on Sunday thanks to goals from Franck Kessie and Samu Castillejo.
Ivory Coast midfielder Kessie gave the Rossoneri the lead from the penalty spot after Jakub Jankto handled inside the area.


Spaniard Castillejo scored with his first touch of the game to notch Milan's second before Albin Ekdal ensured a tense finish when he bundled in from a corner.


Milan are now five points clear of second-placed Inter after 10 games, with Napoli and Juventus a further point behind in third and fourth.


Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action early on when a Sampdoria corner presented Lorenzo Tonelli with a header from close range, which the Milan goalkeeper pushed over the crossbar.


Milan slowly discovered their rhythm and Sandro Tonali sent Brahim Diaz clear, but he hesitated in a good position and instead teed up Ante Rebic whose finish was weak.


Without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milan often lacked spark in attack, although only a brilliant piece of defending kept out Rebic. The Croatian chased a high ball over the top into the box and nudged it beyond goalkeeper Emil Audero, only for Tonelli to slide back and hook off the line.


Milan were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when the referee deemed Jankto's arm had been away from his body as he attempted to block a Theo Hernandez header, and Kessie duly converted from the spot.


Stefano Pioli's side struck the woodwork just after the interval when Tonali finished off a slick passing move with a shot against the post which Audero recovered to gather.


Sampdoria eventually sparked into life and pinned Milan in their own half, but despite forcing three corners the Blucerchiati were unable to seriously trouble Donnarumma.


Tonali did well not to react to provocation from Antonio Candreva, who twisted his ear in a bizarre incident on the hour from which the on-loan Inter midfielder was fortunate not to have been booked.
Pioli threw on Castillejo for Alexis Saelemaekers with 13 minutes left and the Spaniard made an immediate impact as he fired home from Rebic's cross.


Sampdoria pulled a goal back when Ekdal managed to scramble the ball in from a corner, deemed to have crossed the line by goalline technology despite Donnarumma's efforts to haul it out.


Ekdal had a chance to equalise at the death when he met Candreva's cross but could only plant his header wide from close range.

[Edoman]

Liverpool 4-0 Wolves: Reds celebrate fans' Anfield return with emphatic victory



6 December 2020, 





Liverpool celebrated the return of fans to Anfield with a 4-0 victory over Wolves on Sunday.


Sitting three points off the summit of the Premier League following Tottenham's win over Arsenal earlier in the day, the Reds responded by claiming a typically hard-earned victory over Nuno Espirito Santo's side.


Goals from Mohamed Salah, Georginio Wijnaldum and Joel Matip, along with an own goal from Nelson Semedo, ensured they drew level with Spurs on points to move second by virtue of goal difference.


Perhaps buoyed by their returning supporters, Liverpool started the brighter, and went close when Sadio Mane headed over after a slick one-two with Andy Robertson.


But they were quickly reminded of Wolves' threat at the other end as Daniel Podence drew a fingertip save from Caoimhin Kelleher with a wonderfully inventive chip.


Both sides looked relatively comfortable defensively otherwise and, as such, it was no surprise that, when the opening goal came, it was thanks to an error rather than a moment of invention.


Jordan Henderson's ball over the top looked primed for a headed clearance but, in trying to chest it down, Conor Coady simply set up Salah for a left-footed finish into the right-hand corner.


The visiting captain looked to have redeemed himself when he was awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but replays showed he had in fact not been touched by Mane before going down in the box, leading to a VAR turnover.


Despite Liverpool's lead, the second half continued in nip-and-tuck fashion, with both sides fashioning half-chances but remaining wary of committing too much to attack.


However, the game was eventually taken away from Wolves on the hour mark thanks to Wijnaldum who, arriving on the break and using Coady as a shield, curled a beauty into the Kop-end top corner.


Matip quickly followed that with a third, the defender heading in a delicious inswinging Salah cross from the right wing after finding himself at the top end of the pitch for a corner.


And a memorable night for the 2,000 supporters allowed into Anfield was capped with a fourth goal with a quarter of an hour still to go, Semedo inadvertently putting through his own net in attempting to block a Mane effort.
What does it mean? Champions keep Spurs in sight


Despite their season having been largely defined by an injury crisis that is far from over, Liverpool continue to show they are more than capable of retaining their Premier League title.


As for Wolves, who stay 10th, defeat serves to somewhat temper the excitement that has surrounded their fine start to the campaign, particularly in the aftermath of that win at Arsenal last time out.


Tireless Robertson shines again
He may have played more football than any other Liverpool player this season, but Robertson just gets better and better.


The Scot took 87 touches (bettered only by Curtis Jones and Jordan Henderson), put in eight crosses, and regained possession on seven occasions as he starred for the hosts.


Coady struggles on Anfield return
A boyhood Liverpool fan and a product of the club's academy, Coady is always keen to impress when he heads back to Anfield.


But the defender endured a night to forget, losing possession nine times – most crucially in teeing up Salah's goal – and completed just 61.5 per cent of his passes into the opposition half.


He was also perhaps fortunate not to pick up a yellow card for an overturned penalty win late in the first half.


Key Opta Facts

- Liverpool have won 31 of their past 32 home league games (D1), scoring 93 goals while conceding just 25 in this time.


- Wolves have lost eight consecutive league meetings with Liverpool, conceding 19 goals and scoring just twice in this run.


- Since Liverpool's first match after Virgil van Dijk's injury against Everton (Ajax in October), the Reds have conceded just six goals in 11 games in all competitions, keeping six clean sheets in the process.


- Mohamed Salah has 52 Premier League goals at Anfield for Liverpool. Only Lionel Messi at Camp Nou (63) and Robert Lewandowski at the Allianz Arena (59) have more at a single venue in the big-five European leagues since the Egyptian joined the Reds in 2017.


- At 22 years and 13 days, Caoimhin Kelleher became the third youngest Liverpool goalkeeper to keep a Premier League clean sheet, after Scott Carson (19y 211d) and Chris Kirkland (21y 234d), and youngest to do so on his first such start for the Reds.


What's next?

Liverpool visit Denmark on Wednesday for a Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland before visiting Fulham four days later. Wolves, meanwhile, head to Aston Villa next Saturday for an early kick-off.

[Edoman]

Guardiola: No Manchester derby advantage for City against United



7 December 2020, 


Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dismissed the suggestion his team have an advantage over Manchester United ahead of the derby due to their early Champions League qualification.


City will travel to Old Trafford to face Premier League rivals United on Saturday, not before the final round of group fixtures in the Champions League.


Guardiola's City have already advanced to the last 16 and have the luxury of resting players for Wednesday's Group C fixture against Marseille, while Solskjaer's United need at least a point from their trip to RB Leipzig on Tuesday to progress from Group H.


But Guardiola – whose City are sixth and a point behind United – insisted there is no advantage for the Citizens against their neighbours.
"Sometimes we play three days without recovery; sometimes four," Guardiola said.


"It's a derby. We will be focused, committed and for these games, the players are not tired. It's completely the opposite."


City defeated London visitors Fulham 2-0 on Saturday as Guardiola celebrated his 700th career match in charge, while it was his 250th at the helm of the English side across all competitions.


Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne were on target in Manchester, where the former earned his 20th penalty in the Premier League – more than any other player in the competition's history.


De Bruyne has been involved in more shots than any other Premier League player this season (62 – 34 shots, 28 chances created), with the Belgian involved in eight against Fulham (six shots, two chances created).


United, meanwhile, won three of the four derbies last season, including March's showdown at the Theatre of Dreams.


But City have kept four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions to be within six points of leaders Tottenham, and Guardiola added: "We are in a good moment right now, I would say.


"We are better than one month ago but that is normal. Without preparation, without time, it's normal what happened.


"What's important is that we are not far away from the top of the league and already qualified for the next round [of the Champions League]. This is important. Now we want to continue being there.

[Edoman]

I’m only interested in smashing your face in' - Tyson Fury hits back at Anthony Joshua's cheeky jibe








Tyson Fury has hit back at Anthony Joshua after his jibe that his British heavyweight rival should join his management team so they can help him take his career to the next level.
 
During an interview with the Mail on Sunday, the British Nigerian boxer said: 'I do think he should come over to Matchroom and 258 Management and let us handle his career,’
 
Joshua said. ‘He’s a superstar, he’s a superstar in the making with the right management. He could go all the way.
 
‘Build it up, award him Sports Personality of the Year. That video he did (on Wednesday, when he asked to be removed from the SPOTY shortlist) should be him saying, “I’m accepting my award”, not that, “I don’t want to be a part of it”.
 
'We’ll have a look at his PR, we’ll strip it all back and make this fight what it’s supposed to be. He’s got a lot of potential.’
 
The comment provoked Fury, with the heavyweight champion responding on Twitter that he wanted to 'smash Joshua's face in'.
 
He wrote: 'Anthony Joshua, has it ever dawned on you I’m not interested in being a superstar, or famous, I’m a fighting man & only interested in smashing your face in, u keep the stardom, I’ll stay real, #youbigdosser. I’m coming for u superstar, tick tock tick tock.'

 
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are expected to face each other in an all-British heavyweight unification fight next year. 

[Edoman]

[b]Cristiano, Messi And Salah Battling To Be Named Best Player Of The 21 Century


Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Mohamed Salah are competing to be named the best player of the 21st century at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, having been nominated as the finalists by more than eight million voters around the world from more than 230 different countries.[/b]

The award, which MARCA is an official partner of, will be announced on December 27, and this is the first time in 10 years that the finalists have been chosen by the fans.

Cristiano, Messi and Lewandowski have also been nominated for the best player in 2020.

Club of the century

As well as the individual awards, there will also be an award for the best club of the 21st century.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly have been included in the finalists and will compete against Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid for the prestigious award.

As for the 2020 team of the year, Bayern, Liverpool and Real Madrid will battle it out, with fans all over the world voting alongside the Globe Soccer Awards judges, who comprise of a list of leading experts from the footballing industry.

All prizes

All categories that will be awarded prizes are as follows:

Player of the century: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Mohamed Salah.

Coach of the century: Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane.

Club of the century: Al Ahly, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Agent of the century: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola.

The 2020 player of the year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

The 2020 club of the year: Bayern, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The 2020 coach of the year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hansi Flick (Bayern) and Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool).

https://amp.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/12/08/5fcf6d8b22601d5f638b45dd.html

[Edoman]

[b]Ronaldo Outshines Messi As Juventus Beat Barcelona 

Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to take his Champions League goal tally to 134 as Juventus beat a "scared" Barcelona to seal top spot in Group G[/b]

In his club career, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more away goals against Barcelona than he has against any other opponent (14)

Ronaldo sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way after being fouled by Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo.

Juve doubled their lead through Weston McKennie's bicycle kick before Ronaldo added his second from the spot after Clement Lenglet handled.

"We weren't aggressive," said Barca boss Ronald Koeman.

"It looked as if we'd come out looking not to lose, as opposed to trying to control the game. We weren't good, not even positionally.

"We looked scared."

It is Barcelona's first defeat in a group game since 2016.

They started the day with a three-point cushion over Juve but finish second and will be unseeded in Monday's last-16 draw.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, regarded as the two greatest players of their generation, were facing one another for the first time since May 2018.

While Ronaldo scored two, Messi was frustrated by 42-year-old Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who made a string of fine saves.

Juventus finish top of Group G because of their superior head-to-head record over Barcelona

Ronaldo comes out on top against Messi
This was the 36th meeting between great rivals Messi and Ronaldo on the international, European and domestic stage.

They have won the Champions League nine times between them, scoring a combined 252 goals in the competition.

But this was Ronaldo's night, the Portuguese scoring for the first time in the Champions League against Barcelona with Messi on the pitch.

Twelve years on from their first meeting, Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, got the better of his arch rival.

Lionel Messi had all seven of Barcelona's shots on target in this match

Earlier in the 2020-21 season, Messi became the first player to score in 16 successive Champions League campaigns.

Messi had seven shots on target but could find no way past Buffon, while Antoine Griezmann headed against the bar.

Griezmann said the defeat was not Koeman's fault.

"Who else's fault could it be other than the players? We're the ones who go out there and play," he said.

"We were missing everything - desire, attitude, a willingness to run. Everything was bad."

At the age of 35, Ronaldo might not get too many more chances to cross swords with Messi.

He still trails Messi 16-11 in terms of victories between the two but this was a night to savour for Juventus' former Real Madrid player.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55219543

[Edoman]

[b]Man United Crash Out Of Champions League, Drop Into Europa League

Manchester United's season suffered a huge blow as a defeat at German side RB Leipzig knocked them out of the Champions League.[/b]

Needing just a draw to progress to the last 16, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side conceded twice inside 13 minutes to leave their hopes in tatters before RB Leipzig added what ultimately turned out to be the killer third with 20 minutes left.

United staged their now customary second-half fightback thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Paul Pogba header, but ultimately fell short.

To rub salt in the wound, the goalscorer of the first and supplier of the second, Angelino, is currently on loan in Germany from Manchester City.

His superb low shot into the far corner after just two minutes was followed soon after by a chipped cross to the back post, where Amadou Haidara ghosted in to volley past David de Gea.

It could have been even worse, with the home side seeing a third goal ruled out for offside against Willi Orban on the half-hour.

United were better in the second half and struck the crossbar through a Fernandes free-kick but shortly after substitute Justin Kluivert chipped in following some shoddy defensive play from Maguire and De Gea.

Fernandes' penalty - awarded for a foul on Mason Greenwood by Ibrahima Konate - gave them a slim chance, which Paul Pogba made real with a back-post header into the net, but the Germans held on.

Pogba had started on the bench and came on with 30 minutes to go, a day after his agent Mino Raiola declared that the midfielder was "unhappy" at the club and "has to leave" in the next transfer window.

It is small solace for United that they now drop into the Europa League - a competition they won in 2017.

RB Leipzig advance to the Champions League last 16 having reached the last four in 2019-20.

Whether they do so as group winners or runners-up depends on the result between Paris St-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir in a game that was suspended on Tuesday after a match official was accused of using a racist term towards one of the Turkish side's backroom staff.

No comeback this time as United head for Europa League
Tuesday's defeat is the latest and lowest dip of what has already been a rollercoaster season for Solskjaer's side, both domestically and in Europe.

They were firm favourites to progress from Group H after beating PSG and Leipzig in their first two games of the campaign, but last week's home loss to the French side left them vulnerable and the German side completed the job.

In truth, though, much of the blame for their failure to progress lies with their defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir, who finished bottom of the group.

Critics were quick to pounce on Solskjaer's side after that defeat, particularly in light of the negligent way their defence allowed Demba Ba to run unchallenged from inside his own half to score the opening goal of the Turkish side's 2-1 win.

Such defensive frailties have also been evident throughout their league season, including in wins at Everton, Southampton and West Ham, in which they fell behind but rallied to take the points.

Again in Germany they were unpicked with ease as Angelino surged into space on the left to fire in Leipzig's first and was then afforded too much room to pick out Haidara for the second.

It could have been different had Greenwood taken advantage of time and space on the counter-attack, but he placed his low shot too close to Peter Gulacsi, who saved to preserve the score at 1-0.

It was perhaps telling that not only did Pogba not start the game but that he was not Solskjaer's first port of call in his bid to alter the game, with Donny van de Beek his first substitution.

When Pogba did arrive, he made a difference, scoring the second goal that gave them hope of yet another late recovery and almost an even bigger one with a cross that Nordi Mukiele would have poked into his own net but for the boot of Gulacsi.

The final whistle followed soon after to give Leipzig their revenge for the 5-0 loss they suffered at Old Trafford on matchday two.

What's next?
It is the Manchester derby in the Premier League next for United, who host City on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55219522

[Edoman]

[b][b][b]Juventus Troll Barcelona Over GOAT Tweet[/b][/b][/b]

[b]Juventus took revenge for a cheeky Barcelona tweet about the ‘GOAT’ when Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to beat Barcelona 3-0.

After the Blaugrana conquered Turin 2-0 on October 28, Barca’s official account tweeted: ‘We are glad you were able to see the GOAT on your pitch, Juventus!’ with an image of Lionel Messi.

The Allianz Juventus Stadium is of course home to Ronaldo, but he missed that game due to COVID-19.

We are glad you were able to see the on your pitch, @juventusfcen! pic.twitter.com/yh74wh0lNJ

Juve replied: ‘You probably looked it up in the wrong dictionary. We’ll bring you the right one at Camp Nou.’

GOAT is of course Internet speak for Greatest Of All Time.

So, after CR7 scored two of the three Juventus goals during a 3-0 victory that allowed the Bianconeri to secure top spot in the Champions League group, revenge was served.

‘We kept our word: we brought it!’

Source: https://twitter.com/juventusfcen/status/1336435446050643968?s=19


[/b]

[Edoman]

'I never saw Messi as a rival - Cristiano Ronaldo says after Juventus 3-0 win over Barcelona







Football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted he never saw Lionel Messi as a rival after Juventus brushed past Barcelona in the Champions League with a superb 3-0 win on Tuesday night, December 8.
 
Ronaldo converted two penalties before Weston McKennie scored at Camp Nou, and the 0-3 win means Juve claim top spot in  Group G.
 
Messi made 11 shots, including seven on target, but couldn't score as he played against his rival, Ronaldo once more.

Ronaldo, who shared a brief embrace with Messi before the Tuesday night clash, said there was no rivalry between the two all-time greats.

"I have always had a very cordial relationship with him," the Juve star told Movistar on Tuesday night.
 
"I shared 12, 13 or 14 years of award ceremonies with him. I never saw him as a rival.

"He always tries to do what is best for his team and me too. I always got along very well with him.

"But we know that in football, for the press, for the show, a rivalry is sought, but I have always gotten along well with him. I see him as always."

Since 2003-04, Messi's seven shots on target were the most a player has had in a single Champions League match without scoring. His 11 in total was also the most in a game without scoring in the competition.
 
But Ronaldo scored his first goals against Barca in the Champions League (in his sixth appearance) and 133rd and 134th goals in the competition.
 
"Barcelona are going through a difficult time, but it is still Barcelona," Ronaldo said.
 
"The truth is that we are very happy, we knew it was an almost impossible mission, it was a complicated mission and we played well.
 
"The key was to get into the game well, we scored two early and from there we believed it was possible."

[Edoman]

Manchester United seriously considering sacking Ole Gunnar Solksjaer after club crash out of Champions League







According to multiple press reports emanating from the UK, the Manchester United board is seriously considering sacking manager, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, after the club crashed out of the UEFA Champions League into the Europa League after a 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig on Tuesday night, December 8.
 
In a Champions League campaign that started so promisingly for the Premier League club, three defeats in their last four games in Group G saw them finishing third in the standings.

After losing 3-1 to PSG in their previous champions league fixture, defeat at the Red Bull Arena would have seen them crash down into Europe's secondary competition regardless of what happened in the PSG vs Ba?ak?ehir game.
 
Manchester City loanee, Angelino, fired the Germans into the lead within two minutes with a sizzling back-post finish.
 
Then Amadou Haidara doubled the Leipzig advantage during the opening 45 minutes.
 
Solskjaer's nightmare was finalized after the break as a mix-up from David de Gea and Harry Maguire allowed Justin Kluivert to give the home side another goal.

The Red Devils somehow hauled themselves back into the game through Bruno Fernandes' penalty and then a header from Paul Pogba but the result was not enough to grant them progression.

Now, multiple reports have it that the club vice-chairman Ed Woodward is frustrated with Solksjaer as no tangible result has been achieved since he took over two years ago.
 
Woodward also feels he has supplied Solksjaer with all his transfer targets and a £80m Maguire who keeps letting in goals .
 
Reports from the Sun UK, Mirror and Daily Star also suggest that the club will soon enter discussions with former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino or even PSG coach Thomas Tuchel as the club has stalled under Solksjaer.
 
Manchester United face Manchester City this weekend and a loss to the Citizens could be the final nail in Solksjaer's coffin.
 

[Edoman]

Champions League: Drogba thanks Demba Ba, Webo as Istanbul Basaksehir, PSG’s players walk off pitch


 
on
 December 9, 2020



Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba, on Wednesday thanked Istanbul Basaksehir’s assistant coach, Pierre Webo and striker, Demba Ba, for standing out during their side’s abandoned Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.


Drogba also showed gratitude to Istanbul and PSG’s players for walking off the pitch following an alleged racial insult.


DAILY POST had earlier reported that the match between PSG and Istanbul was abandoned after players from both sides walked off the pitch, alleging the fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu used a racial slur towards Webo, before he was sent off.

Reacting, Drogba, in a tweet via his Twitter handle, wrote, “Thank you @dembabafoot and @AchilleWebo for standing out and to the players for leaving the field#notoracisim 

@UEFAcom@FIFAcom@peaceandsport.”
Meanwhile, UEFA had rescheduled the Champions League game between PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir, after it was suspended on Tuesday night.


The game will be played with a different set of match officials on Wednesday with UEFA promising a full investigation.

[Edoman]

Champions League: Antoine Griezmann reveals who to blame for Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus


 
on
 December 9, 2020



Barcelona forward, Antoine Griezmann, has blamed himself and his teammates for their Champions League 3-0 defeat against Barcelona on Tuesday night.
Griezmann said Barcelona players lacked attitude, and desire to run and to defend against Juventus.


A brace from Ronaldo and a strike from Weston McKennie ensured Juventus defeated Barcelona at Camp Nou.


“We didn’t turn up,” Griezmann said as quoted by ESPN after the game.


“They turned us over in the first half. We were lacking in every department: attitude, desire to run, to defend … everything was bad.

“Who’s to blame if not those of us who are out there playing? We know how to run, how to work hard, and that’s what we must do to move forward.


“I don’t want to look for excuses. We have to leave that to one side and work hard. There’s nothing else for it. There’s a game on Sunday [against Levante], and we have to win it. The image [of the team] tonight was ugly.”

[Edoman]

Chelsea vs Krasnodar: Lampard singles out two players after 1-1 draw

on
 December 9, 2020



Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, has singled out Billy Gilmour and Tino Anjorin for praise following his side’s Champions League 1-1 draw with Krasnodar on Tuesday night.


Lampard said both Gilmour and Anjorin did really good against Krasnodar at Stamford Bridge.


Chelsea and Krasnodar played draw following goals from Jorginho and Remy Cabella.


“Billy Gilmour was really good on his return, and Tino Anjorin was really good making his full debut in the Champions League,” Lampard said as quoted by Chelsea’s official website after the game.

“There were no injuries, we got the work in the legs for people that needed it and also the ones that come off the bench because we’ll be needing them this week so I am very pleased.


“We wanted to win, but it was a tough game to navigate. I asked the lads to be professional and get their attitude right, and they all certainly did that.”


Chelsea’s next game is against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday

[Edoman]

Mourinho hopes events of 'iconic' PSG v Istanbul Basaksehir match are never repeated



9 December 2020, 



Jose Mourinho believes the postponed Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir following allegations of racism will be seen as "iconic" in the fight against discrimination.


Tuesday's match at the Parc des Princes was initially stopped before the quarter-of-an-hour mark, with both sets of players gathering on the sidelines for more than 10 minutes.


Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba was seen remonstrating with fourth official Sebastian Coltescu, before he and his team-mates were followed down the tunnel by their PSG counterparts.


Soon after, Basaksehir's official Twitter account alleged assistant coach Pierre Webo had been exposed to racist language by Coltescu, and following a delay of more than two hours the game was finally postponed.


A UEFA statement confirmed the game was to resume on Wednesday at 18:55 CET with a new team of officials in place, while an investigation into the incident was launched.


A host of players from across the world – including PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe – posted anti-racism messages to social media channels in response, and Mourinho feels the incident will be considered iconic as a result of the players making a united stand.
"It's a very sad situation," Tottenham boss Mourinho said ahead of the Europa League visit of Royal Antwerp. "Every form of racism has to be fought. It should never be accepted. I'm very sad because we don't want that in football.


"I know the referee [Ovidiu Hategan] personally, not the fourth official. [Hategan is] a very good guy and very good referee.


"To be involved, not directly, in a game that will become iconic is not a nice thing. The fourth official, only he can make his feelings clear. Of course, he made an unacceptable mistake.
"Only he can open his heart and apologise. Everyone in football, we have our responsibilities and if we make mistakes, you accept your responsibility.


"That game will become iconic, a Champions League game stopped, but hopefully it will never happen again."


UEFA revealed on Wednesday that an inspector had been appointed to lead the probe into Tuesday's events.

[Edoman]

Ronaldo's Juve joy shows why lost soul Messi wanted out



9 December 2020, 







It's never been his style, but perhaps Lionel Messi should have come up with a signature celebration.
What could prove to be the final encounter between the two greatest footballers of the 21st century was shot through with familiar images.
There was Cristiano Ronaldo, coolly dispatching a pair of penalties in a deserved 3-0 win for Juventus at Camp Nou.

When the ball rippled Marc-Andre ter Stegen's net, we knew what was coming. Off he tore in celebration - a jump, a twist, arms thrust out by his side. "SIIIUUUUUU!!!".


There was also Barcelona again flailing hopelessly out of their depth against elite European opposition - a repeated picture with another recognisable frame.


As Ronald Koeman's men tamely relinquished top spot in Group G, Messi's sad and slumped figure padded around the centre circle.


Any closer look at his features revealed a tired anguish and the weight of the world. He used to only look like this when he happened upon Argentina's biennial major tournament catastrophes.

Now, for the team lying ninth in LaLiga - the team of his life who he tried and failed to leave after their biggest humiliation - dejection feels like Messi's default.


Paris, Turin, Rome, Anfield, Lisbon and now this, the first time fortress Camp Nou had been breached in 38 Champions League games. Each time, the camera falls on Messi, trudging through rubble that becomes harder to rebuild after each wrecking ball hit.


Barcelona remain in this season's Champions League, so defeat on Wednesday does not carry the same meaning as those ignominious knockout stage thrashings. But all they had to do here was not mess up terribly - just don't lose by three goals and you win the group - and they couldn't manage it.


Juve scented blood early on, zipping after their opponents. The decision to award Ronaldo a soft 12th-minute penalty was perhaps propelled by reputation. His conversion was never in doubt. The result felt just as certain when Weston McKinnie crowned a move so good the entire Barcelona defence stood around to watch it.


Messi, to his credit, never stopped probing in a vain attempt to find answers beyond his colleagues. In truth, when Martin Braithwaite is the man chosen to come on at half-time to save Barcelona against Juventus, there are an awful lot of questions.


The deeper the hole Barca find themselves in nowadays, the deeper Messi tends to come for possession. "Fine, I'll do it myself."


He had 11 of the hosts' 20 shots, including all seven to test fellow great Gianluigi Buffon. Messi had more touches (125), contested more duels (19) and attempted more passes in the opposition half (82) than any of his team-mates.


By contrast, Ronaldo could lurk with intent on the margins. He touched the ball 48 times, contested three duels and had only one shot other than his penalties.


The upshot was the 35-year-old could scamper back towards his own penalty area in the 81st minute and dispossess Messi's latest forlorn assault on the massed ranks of black and white.
He loved it, just as much as he loved a triumphant slow strut around the Camp Nou pitch and back to the dugouts after his stoppage-time substitution. 

Those two moments combined the sort of verve and mischief that are possible when a supreme player has 12 goals in 10 games this season, apparently without a care in the world.


The madness of the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry tends to drain such sensations in those who linger in its clutches too long. The fervour was never greater than when Messi and Ronaldo were at their peak.


Away from that tumult, Ronaldo is basking in his autumn years with a twinkle in his eye. Meanwhile, Messi meanders on joylessly, shoved along by professional pride and contractual obligation.


The pure pleasure in the play of his great rival offered a clear indication of why he wanted out. What was once unthinkable is now clear: any final triumphs in possibly the greatest career of them all are far more likely if Messi can extract himself from the Barcelona circus.