December 2018 – Page 2 – Football Flame    
Latest Football News

Month: December 2018

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United confirm Jose Mourinho dismissal

Manchester United announced in a statement this morning that the Portuguese has been sacked after two and half years at the club and the team sitting in sixth in the league after their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the Premier League's inception in 1992.“Manchester United announces that managerMourinho has left the club with immediate effect. The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future," the statement read.“A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”
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UCL

UEFA Champions League last 16 Draw, Liverpool face Bayern Munich

Group winners Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Porto, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man City and Juventus have been given the customary home advantage for the second leg, with group runners-up AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Schalke, Tottenham, Ajax, Man Utd and Lyon playing at home first. UEFA Champions League draw for the Last 16 Schalke vs Man City Atletico Madrid vs Juventus Man Utd vs PSG Tottenham vs Borussia Dormund Lyon vs Barcelona As Roma vs FC Porto Ajax vs Real Madrid Bayern Munich vs Liverpool The Round of 16 first leg matches will take place on February 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th, while the second leg ties will be played on March 5th, 6th, 12th and ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham eye Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross is reportedly on the radar of West Ham. According to report, West Ham and Liverpool are both interested in the 27-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.But it was reported on Tuesday that Liverpool were already eyeing up a deal for the creative playmaker for January, as Jurgen Klopp plans a potential £15million move. West Ham should step up their interest in Gross and try to match Liverpool for his signature in the New Year.The German is an attacking midfielder that is one of the most technically gifted players at Brighton and would be a good signing for Manuel Pellegrini.Gross made a huge impact at Brighton last season, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists in the Premier League to save his club from relegation.He’s now back in ...
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LALIGA

Real madrid winger Gareth Bale set to miss Rayo Vallecano clash

Bale suffers an ankle injury he picked up during Madrid’s 3-0 defeat by CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.Having missed training on Thursday and Friday, coach Santiago Solari intimated that Bale would miss the match against their Madrid neighbours.Solari said:“We will see how ankle improves from yesterday to today and from today to tomorrow. “We will speak to the medical team and with him (Bale).”
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PREMIER LEAGUE

EPL: Manchester United set for biggest test as they face Liverpool this weekend

Jose Mourinho faces tough test as he prepares Manchester United for a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool while Manchester City look to get back into  groove after last week's Chelsea defeat.United have an impressive recent record against Liverpool, unbeaten in eight league games, but away fans will travel with a sense of trepidation to Anfield.Unai Emery takes his Arsenal side, unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions, to face struggling Southampton while Chelsea also travel to the south coast to take on Brighton. Manchester City host seventh-placed Everton while Tottenham, fresh from reaching the Champions League knockout phase, face Burnley at Wembley.
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NEWS

Sevilla and Villarreal progress in Europa

Sevilla and Villarreal qualified for the knockout rounds of the Europa League yesterday, the final night of group-stage matches.Rapid Vienna, Malmo, Krasnodar, Rennes.Genk and BATE also advanced.Sevilla advanced from Group J after a 3-0 win over Krasnodar, which also advanced. Villarreal defeated Spartak Moscow 2-0 to progress from Group G with Rapid, which scored in the 84th minute to win 1-0 and knock out Rangers.Genk cruised to the next phase with a 4-0 rout of Sarpsborg in Group I, and Malmo also made it with a 1-0 away victory over Besiktas.Rennes' new coach, Julien Stephan, celebrated a 2-0 victory in Group K and a spot in the next round by knocking out Astana.Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kiev, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Lazio, Real Betis, Salzburg,...
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BUNDESLIGA

Stuttgart eye Galatasaray winger Garry Rodrigues

Stuttgart are reportedly interested in Galatasaray winger Garry Rodrigues, who is a wanted man ahead of the January transfer window.The Cape Verde international has long been linked with a move away from the Turkish giants, however Galatasaray aren’t ready on letting their star asset go.However, according to freport, the Bundesliga side are keen on doing a deal for the 28-year old, and Gala will face an uphill battle to keep hold of the wide-man.Stuttgart are currently in 16th place in the Bundesliga, and could be in search of attacking reinforcements as they look to climb the table in the second half of the season.
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NEWS

Rangers out of Europa League after Dejan Ljubicic fires late winner for Rapid Vienna

Rangers crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday after falling 1-0 at Rapid Vienna. Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, who had to win in Vienna in their final group game in order to qualify for the last 32, finish third in Group G, two points behind Rapid thanks to Dejan Ljubicic’s 84th-minute winner, which sees the Austrians through to the knockout stages, level on 10 points with group winners Villarreal.The Spaniards ensured top spot by beating bottom club Spartak Moscow 2-0 thanks to goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Karl Toko Ekambi.Rangers came close to breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute of a match with few shots and little incident when Connor Goldson headed the ball against the bar, but Ljubicic rolled home the winner late on to seal Rangers’ fate.
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TRANSFERS

Manchester City agree to sign US goalkeeper Zack Steffen

Manchester City have reached an agreement to sign goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Columbus Crew. Steffen has agreed a four-year deal with the Premier League champions, which will begin in July, for an undisclosed fee.The 23-year-old, who started his career in Germany with Freiburg II, has been capped six times by the United States, and is regarded as one of the most outstanding players in Major League Soccer.He will remain at Columbus Crew until he joins up with Man City in the summer.
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UCL

Champions League Round-up: Borussia Dortmund grab 2-0 win over Monaco to top their group

Borussia Dortmund beat AS Monaco 2-0 on Tuesday to finished top of Champions League Group A ahead of Atletico Madrid.The victory took Dortmund on to 13 points and meant they won the group thanks to a better head-to-head record against the Spaniards, who drew 0-0 at Club Bruges. Raphael Guerreiro got both goals for the Germans, the first when he tapped in following a fine counter-attack with a quarter of an hour gone and the second two minutes from time when he curled a shot into the top corner from around 10 metres out. It was another fine performance by Dortmund, who even without several of their rested regulars extended their season's record to 17 wins, four draws and just one defeat in all competitions. Monaco, who were destined to finish bottom of the group even before the game, suffer...
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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich Sporting director hint at Franck Ribery exit

Franck Ribery will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic indicated on Tuesday.It comes after Arjen Robben said earlier this month that he would leave when his contract expires in the summer after a decade of success with the German champions.Robben, 34, joined in 2009 and formed a formidable attacking partnership with 35-year-old Ribery, whose deal also runs out at the end of the campaign.Salihamidzic told reporters:"The president [Uli Hoeness] talked about it [the possibility of Ribery leaving], and I think it will be like that. It's a year of changes.”Former France international Ribery has made 406 competitive appearances for Bayern, scoring 119 goals, and has featured in 19 games this season."I am pleased that Franck is still playing that wel...
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UCL

Champions League: Barcelona announce squad for Tottenham clash

Barcelona will finish their journey in the Champions League group stage with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur, and manager Ernesto Valverde has called up the following 19 players for Tuesday night’s group finale:Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 13. Jasper CillessenDefenders: 2. Nelson Semedo, 3. Gerard Piqué, 15. Clement Lenglet, 18. Jordi Alba, 24. Thomas Vermaelen, 27. Juan MirandaMidfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 5. Sergio Busquets, 6. Denis Suarez, 7. Philippe Coutinho, 8. Arthur, 22. Arturo Vidal, 26. Carles AlenaForwards: 9. Luis Suarez, 10. Lionel Messi, 11. Ousmane Dembele, 19. Munir
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UCL

Carlo Ancelotti disclose Napoli's plan to eliminate Liverpool from the Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Napoli will not adopt a defensive approach when it travels to Anfield to face Liverpool in Tuesday's epic UEFA Champions League showdown. The Reds are momentarily faced with a difficult task as they will be required to beat the Serie A club if they fancy their chance of progressing in the knockout phase of the European competition.Napoli, on the other hand, needs just a point to consolidate its qualification to the knockout phase should Paris-Saint Germain lose at Red Star Belgrade. With the prospect of a potential upset existing, Carlo Ancelotti does not want to leave any stone unturned.The ex-Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich manager has reiterated that his team will not sit back for the host to attack.Ancelotti stated after Napoli's 4-0 victory ove...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Gylfi Sigurdsson says Everton Players are happy with the work of new manager Marco Silva

Gylfi Sigurdsson has praised Marco Silva for bringing a feel-good factor to Everton. The Toffees manager Silva has lead the club to seventh in the Premier League table since his summer appointment. Everton will welcomes  Watford to Goodison Park on Monday evening.Iceland international Sigurdsson feels Everton are going in the right direction under their new coach.Sigurdsson told the club website:“I think if you ask any of the players, they are enjoying working with the new manager.“He wants us to play attacking football, to work hard without the ball and press.“There is a good understanding within the players.”Silva brought six new outfield players to Merseyside during the summer. Brazilian duo Richarlison and Bernard were joined by commanding centre-backs Kurt Zouma an...
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SERIE A

Juventus beat Inter milan 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten record

Mario Mandzukic in the 66th minute  led Juventus to a 1-0 win over Inter Milan Friday in the first installment of the Derby d’Italia in Turin.The win kept The Juventus unbeaten record in Serie A intact, while Inter Milan failed to gain any ground on Napoli in second. In fact, Napoli could pull farther ahead of Inter as they host Frosinone Saturday. Regardless of how AC Milan does this weekend against Torino, Inter will remain in third-place heading into next weekend.Inter controlled  and had its best chances in the early stages of the first half, especially with Gagliardini’s efforts off a ball from Icardi inside the area.But, after that, Juventus turned up the heat as Mandzukic nearly put the Bianconeri on the board with a header that was pushed away by Samir Handanovic in the 3...
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LALIGA

Denis Suarez complains of lack of playing time in Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez has disclosed that he is not happy with his lack of playing time at the club, as speculation of a move away persists.The 24-year-old started for the first time this season on Wednesday, scoring twice as Barcelona beat Cultural Leonesa 4-1 in the Copa del Rey.Suarez has previously said he is determined to fight for his place at the club, but he has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Napoli  with some reports claiming a transfer could go through in January.“The coach said that the Leonesa game was a test for those who do not play regularly, so we will see on Saturday if I have passed,” Suarez said after the game.“I work to play, if I do not play we’ll see. I’m not happy, because I’m not playing and it’s what I want, to play.”
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PREMIER LEAGUE

EPL: Jurgen Klopp focused on Bournemouth clash, not the league table

Jurgen Klopp’s goal is to ensure Liverpool are ready to perform at their best against AFC Bournemouth, not the plan of going top of the Premier League. Liverpool will visit the Vitality Stadium on Saturday knowing that victory would lift them above Manchester City for a few hours at least, with Pep Guardiola’s team taking on Chelsea later in the day.Klopp’s primary concern, however, is the immediate task of overcoming seventh-placed Bournemouth, not the wider context of the league standings.Klopp stated during Friday’s pre-match press conference:“I don’t think Man City feel any pressure, they don’t look like that and that’s not the first target - the first target is to perform on the highest level because it’s needed against Bournemouth.“They play a fantastic season and it’s just an outsta...
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SERIE A

Mauro Icardi named Serie A player of the year

Mauro Icardi may not have won the France Football Ballon d’Or award but he did win the Italian Ballor d’Or given by the Gran Gala del Calcio.The Argentina man, who managed to score 29 goals in 34 Serie A matches was given the award on Monday. He became the first player not of Juventus to win the award since Zlatan Ibrahimovic won it in 2011 while playing for AC Milan.A back heel goal against his former club Sampdoria last season also won him goal of the year.
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LALIGA

Barcelona officially promote Carles Alena to first team squad

Carles Alena is now officially a member of the Barcelona first-team squad and will wear the No. 21 for the rest of the season.Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that he’s been officially registered with La Liga, after Rafinha was ruled out for six months, which means his days with Barcelona B are over.Alena started the season wearing the No. 26 but will now wear the 21 which used to belong to Andre Gomes.
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LALIGA

Barcelona announce squad for Leonesa second leg

Barcelona will welcome Cultural Leonesa for the second leg of their Copa del Rey Round of 32 matchup, with Barça carrying a 1-0 lead from the first game.Ernesto Valverde has called up the following 19 players for the game, with one of them cut from the final matchday squad:Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 13. Jasper CillessenDefenders: 2. Nélson Semedo, 15. Clément Lenglet, 24. Thomas Vermaelen, 27. Juan Miranda, 36. ChumiMidfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 6. Denis Suarez, 7. Philippe Coutinho, 21. Carles Alena, 22. Arturo Vidal, 28. Riqui Puig, 34. Alex Collado, 35. Oriol Busquets, 38. Guillem JaimeForwards: 11. Ousmane Dembele, 14. Malcom, 19. MunirSince this is a Cup game against a Third Division side, Valverde allows himself to rest his main players, so Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergi...
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