So after an exciting first round in the Champions League, there are a few shocks and surprises as the competition takes a 2 month break. Of course the major shocks are the exiting of Man United, Ajax and Valencia.
Joining that clubs that had already qualified to the knock out stages are: Lyon, Basel, CSKA Moscow and Napoli. With the likes of United, Valencia, Villarreal, Porto and Ajax out of the tournament, it will be interesting to see whether the traditional European powerhouses will fair any better. Read more... (361 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)
by David on December 7, 2011
On another night of drama in the Champions League Lyon, Basel and Napoli all moved onto the round of 16, while last season’s beaten finalist Manchester United was sent to the Europa League.
The most unlikely team to progress to the knock stages was Lyon, who needed Ajax to lose at home to Real Madrid while they beat Dinamo Zagreb and overturned a seven-goal deficit. When Dinamo went one-up it seemed that Lyon’s record of progressing from the group stage every year since 2002/03 was coming to an end. But after a goal right before half-time Lyon went all out in the second half, scoring six goals to win 7-1. With Real Madrid beating Ajax 3-0, Lyon somehow had qualified for the knockout stages. Read more... (242 words, 1 image, estimated 58 secs reading time)
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Lyon, Basel And Napoli Complete Champions League Last 16
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FIFA’s final 3 man shortlist for the coveted World Player of the year award were announced yesterday and usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made the Cut. Joining the pair is Messi’s Barcelona team mate Xavi.
Messi who has won the award on two previous occasions, is looking to make history by wining the award for the third consecutive year at the award gala ceremony in Zurich’s Kongresshaus on January 9th. FIFA arrived at this list after votes from coaches (33%), captains of national teams (33%) and selected journalists (33%). Read more... (382 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)
After beating Milan 3-2 at the San Siro on Wednesday, i certainly was not expecting Defending European and Spanish League champions Barcelona to lose to Getafe.
If anything, i expected them to reduce the points margin on leaders Real Madrid who were themselves facing a tough opponent in Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu. However, as fate would have it, the Blaugrana suffered a shock 1-0 defeat that left them 6 points off the pace in the La Liga standings. Read more... (382 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)
League action resumes this weekend with some very exciting fixtures across Europe. In Italy defending champions AC Milan face a tough away fixture to Fiorentina tomorrow in a match that could see them on their current position 3 ranking.
However, all attention will be on the Juventus v Palermo tie and the Napoli v Lazio match. Juventus who are in position 4 in the league and with a game in hand take on 5th place Palermo in Turin.
The Bianconeri whoa have had a good start to the league this season, will be hoping to continue on their fine form that has seen them win 3 of their last 5 matches beating Milan, Inter and Fiorentina in the process. Read more... (393 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)
Just days after Neymar put pen to paper and signed a new improved contract that will see him stay with Brazilian club Santos until 2014, club President Luis Alvaro Ribiero has spoken out on Spanish club Real Madrid‘s aim to sign the teen sensation.
Ribiero who did not have any kind words for the European power house slammed the club’s behaviour labeling it lamentable and arrogant. Neymar has long been a target for big European clubs including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea and although the 19 year old has always pledged his loyalty to Santos, many believe that it won’t be long before he decides to move to Europe. Read more... (378 words, 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
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Ribiero: Mourinho Will Force Neymar To Cut His Hair If He Moves To Real
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by David on November 10, 2011
Last week we covered tha ESPNsoccernet reported that Brazilian star Neymar had agreed to join Real Madrid next summer from Santos for around £53m.
Well today we learnt that the ESPN story was wrong as Neymar announced that he will stay at Santos until at least 2014.
“I’m very happy, it’s another decision I’m taking in my life, a family decision,” Neymar told a news conference where he was handed a Santos shirt with the number 2014 on it by club president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira. “There was interest (from other clubs) but my father didn’t tell me about any concrete offers. I always said I wanted to stay here.” Read more... (274 words, 1 image, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)
Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Izecson Dos Santos Leite aka Kaka won’t be making his much awaited return to the Brazilian national team after a calf injury ruled him out of the Selecao’s upcoming friendlies against Gabon and Egypt.
The Real Madrid star who has been in fantastic form for Los Merengues these past few weeks will have to wait a little longer to play his first match for his country in more than a year.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Brazil coach Mano Menezes expressed his disappointment at not being able to have Kaka for the matches. Read more... (483 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is giving fellow La Liga rival Lionel Messi a run for his money for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or award as the Portuguese striker capped a fantastic few days his had with Los Merengues by not only bagging a hat trick in last night’s fixture against Osasuna, but also by winning his second Golden Boot award.
The 26 year old was awarded the Golden Boot award for 2011 for his exploits in the 2010/2011 season that saw win score an impressive and unmatched 40 league goals. Read more... (361 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)
What a fine weekend it was across Europe as a number of top notch clubs produced fantastic results in the respective leagues. The biggest result was definitely, Real Madrid‘s 7-1 home win over Osasuna.
In neighbouring Italy, champions AC Milan beat Catania 4-0 to move into 3rd place as the eagerly awaited clash between Juventus and Napoli failed to get underway as bad weather hampered the fixture.
The result sees Juventus relinquish their hold on position one to Udinese and Lazio who won their respective fixtures to move top of the table as joint leaders with 21 points from 10 matches. Read more... (330 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
