March 2019 – Football Flame    
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Month: March 2019

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SERIE A

Roma humiliated by Napoli after 4-1 loss

Napoli humiliated Claudio Ranieri's Roma with a 4-1 win in the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday consolidating second place, 15 points behind runaway leaders Juventus in Serie A.Arkadiusz Milik put the visitors ahead after two minutes with Dries Mertens, Simone Verdi and Amin Younes adding three more in the second half to inflict another blow on the hosts' Champions League ambitions next season.Juventus continued their march towards an eighth consecutive Serie A title with on-form teenager Moise Kean scoring the only goal against Empoli on Saturday.Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli have almost no chance of winning the title with nine games to go, but extended their cushion on third-placed Inter Milan to ten points before Luciano Spalletti's side host Lazio later on Sunday."I expected a performance like thi...
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BUNDESLIGA

Schalke ease relegation fears with Hannover win

Schalke 04 eased their  Bundesliga relegation fears after Suat Serdar's first-half strike to grab a 1-0 win over fellow struggler Hannover on Sunday. Schalke captain Benjamin Stambouli set up Serdar to score with a volley in the 39th minute. It came against the run of play as the visitors had done very little in attack and had been dominated in terms of possession and goal chances. But Schalke's first win since interim coach Huub Stevens returned for his third stint lifts the side six points clear of the relegation zone with seven rounds remaining. The team had previously gone eight games without a win in all competitions.Hannover dropped to last following Nuremberg's first win in 21 games the day before. Thomas Doll's team has now endured seven defeats from eight games.
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LALIGA

Lionel Messi brace sends Barcelona 13 points clear

Lionel Messi continued his remarkable run of form with a second-half double as Barcelona continued their march towards the La Liga title on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Espanyol. The visitors gave their city rivals a tough game at the Camp Nou, but Messi's chipped free-kick with 19 minutes to play and a late second sent the reigning champions 13 points clear at the top ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid's game at Alaves later on Saturday.Messi has now netted eight times in his last four games for Barca, and leads the way in the La Liga scoring charts with 31 goals, 13 ahead of teammate Luis Suarez. Ernesto Valverde's men struggled to break down Espanyol early on, with Messi, Suarez and Ivan Rakitic all wasting half-chances in the first period. Barcelona saw a penalty appeal wave...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola provides Sergio Aguero fitness update after Fulham victory

Pep Guardiola hopes Sergio Aguero has not suffered a serious injury.The Manchester City striker limped off early in the second half as City returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win. Aguero scored his side's second goal after Bernardo Silva fired the opener at Craven Cottage before he was replaced by Gabriel Jesus."He says he felt something, but hopefully he's not injured," said Guardiola."He decided on not continuing. Hopefully it will not be a big issue."We'll see tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow."City have now won 11 of their last 12 and Guardiola insists they must win their last seven matches to hold off Liverpool."Seven games left for the Premier League, and it's easy: we have to win every game to be champions."We have a tough, tough opponent. But that's the chall...
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LALIGA

Odion Ighalo disclose why he rejected Barcelona loan move

Odion Ighalo says he was offered the chance to join Barcelona in the January transfer window but turned it down because he “deserves better”.The Nigeria international moved to Changchun Yatai from Watford in 2017 and then signed for Shanghai Shenhua in February.However, he could have been playing at the Camp Nou for the rest of the season but didn’t fancy playing back-up to Luis Suarez.“My agent spoke to me about a loan interest from Barcelona. The club wanted a striker with La Liga experience and someone who understands Spanish football,” he said.”It was meant to be a six-month loan and strictly as a back-up striker. It was nice to hear that Barcelona were interested and any footballer would be more than happy to take it. ”But with due respect I had just finished as the second t...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Rafa Benitez insist he is not afraid of losing Ayoze Perez

Rafa Benitez insists there is no need to worry about Ayoze Perez’s admission that he could look to leave Newcastle United after a five-year cycle.In an interview in his native Spain, Perez suggested there will be a time when he could look to return to his homeland to take the next step in his career. It will be five years ago this summer when the 25-year-old arrived from Tenerife and his current contract does not expire for a further two seasons. But Perez’s comments could encourage teams in Spain to make a move, even though he has enjoyed another productive campaign in which he has scored seven goals to help Newcastle edge towards safety. Perez has previously interested in the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid but such moves would be much harder for him to nail down now given an indiffer...
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SERIE A

Serie A: Cagliari thrash Chievo to move away from relegation zone

Cagliari eased their relegation fears in Serie A with a 3-0 win over 10-man Chievo, who remain rock bottom of the table.Fabio Pisacane, Joao Pedro and Artur Ionita scored in the first half to give Cagliari their first away win in the league since September, and any faint hopes of a Chievo comeback were ended in the 52nd minute when Fabio Depaoli was sent off for a second bookable offence.Chievo made the brighter start but it was the visitors who took the lead with their first significant attack after 16 minutes when Pisacane headed home from Luca Pellegrini's cross. The home side rallied and Perparim Hetemaj's shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Alessio Cragno, but Cagliari doubled their lead in style in the 33rd minute, Pedro firing home a first-time s...
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SERIE A

Cristiano Ronaldo injury update ahead Juventus Champions league tie against Ajax

Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for Juventus' Champions League tie against Ajax, his manager has confirmed.Ronaldo, who is on course to win his fourth Champions League title in succession this season, injured a thigh muscle during Portugal's Euro 2020 qualifier against Serbia in midweek.Although the 34-year-old played down the severity of the injury in a post-match interview, Massimiliano Allegri stated on Friday that he could miss the first leg of the quarter-final against the Dutch club as he recovers."He's already started to move but won't return to training until he feels fit. There is a risk he'll miss the first leg against Ajax," Allegri said."We have to be careful because we're in a tricky period of the season. It's better he misses one match and comes back when he's 100...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton boss Marco Silva reveals the reason for their inconsistent form

Marco Silva has highlighted one key trait he believes has held his side back this season.Everton have suffered an inconsistent campaign up until this stage, at one point finding themselves as high as sixth in the Premier League table before slipping down to the 11th place they currently occupy. The Blues will be looking to continue a recent upturn in form, however, with a visit to the London Stadium to face West Ham on Saturday evening.Silva's side have gained seven points from their previous four matches, but the manager knows they  could and should have got even more. And the boss believes that his team's lack of mental strength throughout this term has been holding them back from securing more points."It’s important to know as much as I can about the players," Silva told the Telegr...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Eric Dier and Serge Aurier ruled out of Tottenham visit to Liverpool with injury

Tottenham Hotspur ruled out Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, manager Mauricio Pochettino has said.Dier suffered a groin injury in England’s 5-0 win over Czech Republic last week and was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate’s squad for their visit to Montenegro.“He (Dier) has been ruled out. It’s not a big issue but he needs to recover from the problem he suffered against the Czech Republic with the national team,” Pochettino told a news conference on Friday. “One week, 10, days, two weeks. We’ll see how it is going to improve. He was running today but we need to wait for the evolution (of the injury). “Him, Harry Winks and Serge Aurier are going to be out for the weekend.” Midfielder Winks is continuing on-field rehabilitation after a groin inju...
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TRANSFERS

Asernal join race with Man Utd to sign Samuel Umtiti from Barcelona

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti is a wanted man with Arsenal joining Manchester United in the battle to sign the Frenchman, according to reports.The Catalan giants are reportedly keen on signing Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax, who they view as Gerard Pique’s long-term replacement, Meaning Umtiti could be available.The France international was linked with United last summer but signed a new contract with Barcelona in June with a release clause of €500m (£425m), however speculation has resurfaced recently suggesting that he could still move to Manchester at the end of the season.However a report from Mundo Depotivo suggests that the Red Devils are not alone in their pursuit of Umtiti, as their top four rivals Arsenal have joined the hunt.Arsenal’s head of football relat...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Asernal concerned about Xhaka fitness ahead Newcastle clash

Asernal are worried about the fitness of Granit Xhaka ahead of Monday's Premier League clash against Newcastle. The 26 year-old suffered a set back during Switzerland's 3-3 draw with Denmark on Tuesday in the opening Group D Euro 2020 qualifer. Xhaka had fired his side into 2-0 lead with a shocking strike from distance midway through the 2nd-half but was replaced with 11mins remaining. Vladimir Petkovic's sid subsequently conceded three goals in closing 6mins and forced to settle for a 3-3 draw.“Xhaka could not stay on the pitch,” Petkovic said afterwards. “He asked me ten minutes before to be replaced. “Granit had abductor problems, he could not do any more.”The former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder has cemented his place in Unai Emery's side despite the summer ar...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Burnley's Dwight Mcneil set for Wolves clash

Burnley youngster Dwight McNeil has revealed how crucial his club remaining fixture are, as the Claret future in the Premier league is hanging in the balance.The Clarets, level on points with Southampton, are just two points ahead of relegation-threatened Cardiff City having played a game more.On the back of a record-breaking eight-game unbeaten run at this level, Sean Dyche’s side have now slipped up in their previous four outings and are staring down the barrel of a second return to the Championship under his tenure.McNeil, 19, who featured for England’s Under 20s against Poland and Portugal during the international break, isn’t willing to give up his dream of playing in the top flight and can’t wait to put things right against Wolves at Turf Moor this weekend.“They’re massive games, all...
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NEWS

Argentina boss Scaloni insist Messi will play in Copa America

Lionel Messi will play for Argentina in the Copa America in june in Brazil, according to coach Lionel Scaloni on Monday.Scaloni, speaking in Morocco where Argentina plays the national team on Tuesday, said he has not discussed the Copa America with Messi since Argentina was embarrassed by Venezuela 3-1 on Friday.Still, he thought Messi will play in the Copa America."Leo will be in Copa America. It is evident he will be. He showed maximum will here and we see he is very driven," Scaloni said. "When the match against Venezuela finished, we talked about the match, not about what is to come. We will work to get a better team."
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TRANSFERS

Barcelona plotting move for Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno

Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno could tie up shock two-year deal with Barcelona, according to a report in Spanish publication Sport.Moreno, who is out of contract at Anfield in the summer was widely expected to pen a deal with Serie A side Lazio having been seen in Rome last week, when he was pictured with former Reds teammate and current Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva.But it is now claimed that Barca have moved ahead in the battle for his signature on a free transfer, and will snap him up as cover for the club's current left-back Jordi Alba.Moreno, 26, signed for the Reds from Sevilla for £12m in the summer of 2014, but he has had an up-and-down time of it at Anfield.Although occasionally impressive, lapses in concentration such as in the 2016 Europa League final against his previous...
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NEWS

Euro 2020 round up: Kylian Mbappe leads France rout, Cristiano Ronaldo gets injured as Portugal draw

Kylian Mbappe led France's rout of Iceland in Euro 2020 qualifiers on Monday, but Cristiano Ronaldo limped off with hamstring injury in Portugal's disappointing draw with Serbia.Mbappe scored one and set up two more as the reigning world champions crushed Iceland 4-0 at the Stade de France to move top of Group H in Euro 2020 qualifying.The result gives France, 4-1 winners over Moldova in their Euro opener, six points from their first two matches and puts them ahead of Turkey, who also won 4-0 on Monday, on goal difference.Samuel Umititi, Olivier Giroud, Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann all scored as Iceland struggled to cope with a totally dominant France side.In Group A, England, fresh from a 5-0 demolition of the Czech Republic in which Raheem Sterling hit a hat-trick, were forced to come fr...
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LALIGA

Zidane shut down possible exit of Marco Asensio from Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane confirmed that he is not willing to let the club sell Marco Asensio  amid reports of a possible switch to Liverpool, among others.Asensio rose to prominence at Real during the Frenchman's celebrated first reign, but struggled to impose himself under first Julen Lopetegui and then Santiago Solari, leading to rumors of a potential exit this summer. Liverpool have long been credited with interest, with one report last year claiming Jurgen Klopp was "obsessed" with Asensio.The Spaniard is fresh from playing the full 90 minutes for his national side against Norway in their 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win, but in the 36 games he has played across competitions this season for Los Blancos, he has gone the full distance just 11 times.Ho...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

N'Golo Kante claim he has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge

N'Golo Kante has distanced himself from reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid this summer after insisting that he intends to stay at Chelsea for the foreseeable future. Real have been keen to bring in the World Cup-winning midfielder as Zinedine Zidane looks to get the Spanish giants back on track domestically and on the European stage. However, Kante insisted on Sunday that he won't be going anywhere as he still has things he wants to accomplish with the Blues.He said in an interview with RTL: "I am at Chelsea and I still have aims here, what is said elsewhere is not important."That is not important. I am at Chelsea and I am focused on that."
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool set to sell Naby Keita back to Bundesliga

Liverpool are reportedly ready to cut their loses on midfielder Naby Keita after less than twelve months at Anfield. The 24-year-old only signed for club last summer with RB Leipzig banking a cheque for around £50million.But reports have surfaced saying Jurgen Klopp may already be willing to let him go.The Reds, according to Team Talk, are also happy to lose £10m on the player. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, it is claimed, have already held talks with the player’s representatives.A return to the Bundesliga appears possible and Klopp has said he wants the under-performing central midfielder to play with more confidence.Having agreed a deal to join LIverpool in the summer of 2017, there was much excitement over Keita as he eventually moved to the Reds the following summer. He impressed...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Bennett becomes first player to score at Tottenham new stadium

Spurs winger J'Neil Bennett scored the first-ever goal at Tottenham's new stadium on Sunday.Tottenham played Southampton in an Under-18 game in the first official test event at the 62,000-seater arena.The opening of the stadium, built on the site of Tottenham's White Hart Lane ground, had been repeatedly put back because of construction and safety delays.Bennett neatly curled the ball low into the bottom corner from outside the area to give his side an 11th-minute lead. The match, which Tottenham won 3-1, took place 679 days after the final game at the old stadium.Tottenham's first senior game in its new arena will be against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on April 3.Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was interviewed on the field at halftime."We all feel the same, so excited. I go...
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