March 2019 – Page 3 – Football Flame    
Latest Football News

Month: March 2019

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LALIGA

Barcelona's Suarez ruled out for two weeks with sprained ankle injury

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has suffered a sprained ankle and will be out for between 10 and 15 days while he recovers.The club confirmed on Monday via their official website. He was taken off in the closing stages of Sunday's 4-1 win over Real Betis.The former Liverpool man has been the team's top option at striker since his arrival in 2014. He has provided a steady stream of goals ever since and once again ranks among the Catalans' top scorers this season with 21 in all competitions.Even at the age of 32, Suarez remains an athletic marvel, and his vision and instincts in the opponent's half are top notch. He has a great understanding with Lionel Messi and functions well in Barcelona's possession-based system.His absence leaves the Catalans with a major hole to fill in the attacking thi...
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BUNDESLIGA

Niko Kovac pleased after Bayern victory

Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac admitted he was happy after his team earned a deserved 6-0 win over Mainz.There was no Champions League hangover for Bayern as they returned to the top of the Bundesliga table in emphatic style on Sunday.James Rodriguez scored a hat-trick while Robert Lewandowski, Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies were also on the scoresheet for the reigning champions as they bounced back from their midweek home defeat to Liverpool.The win, Bayern’s 13th in their last 14 league games, saw Kovac’s team move back above rivals Borussia Dortmund on goal difference at the summit.“A compliment to the lads. We’re pleased we’re at the top again. We saw a lot of zest today, a whole lot of verve, very many good moves,” Kovac told the club’s official website.“Taken altogether it was a d...
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SERIE A

Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina hospitalized after head injury

Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina has been placed under observation for 24 hours in hospital after collapsing on the pitch following a knock to the head earlier in his team's 4-2 Serie A win over Udinese, his team said on Sunday.The Colombia international received treatment after colliding with striker Ignacio Pussetto minutes into the game at the Stadio San Paolo.The 30-year-old, who is on loan from Arsenal, was treated on the pitch but later returned to play with bandages around his head.But 41 minutes later, Ospina collapsed to the ground as medics rushed on, with the player stretchered off and transferred to the nearby San Paolo hospital in an ambulance for tests."Fortunately it's nothing serious, he's conscious, they did a CAT scan that is negative, he'll remain under observation tonight...
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LALIGA

La liga: Messi bags an impressive hat-trick, Villareal earn vital win

Barcleona beat Real Betis 4-1 behind an utterly stunning hat-trick from Messi to restore its 10-point lead atop the La Liga table.Messi was fabulous the entire match, completing 51 of 57 passes, including eight of nine inside the penalty area, and created three chances outside of his three goals. He opened the scoring in the 18th minute, depositing a classic free-kick into the top-left corner. Just before halftime, Luis Suarez did wonderful one-on-two work down the middle and fed a charging Messi through the back line for the finish in front of net.In the 63rd minute, Suarez contributed to the scoreline with a stunning one-on-four breakaway that left three defenders on the ground in his wake before he slotted past Pau Lopez. To finish things off, Messi grabbed his hat-trick in the 85th min...
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NEWS

Di Maria brace helps PSG seal 3-1 win over Marseille

Kylian Mbappe and Valere Germain bracketed the halftime whistle with last-minute/first-minute goals, but Angel Di Maria’s second-half brace proved the difference as Paris Saint-Germain topped Marseille 3-1 to restore its 20-point Ligue 1 lead and leave the visitors exposed in the Champions League race.Marseille came into the match in good form, unbeaten in its last six matches with five wins in that span, but they were no match for Di Maria who had a hand in all three goals. Mbappe opened the scoring at Parc de Princes in first-half stoppage time with a clinical fastbreak, finishing off a feed from Di Maria that pushed the Frenchman to the left, but no matter as he calmly slotted the ball inside the far post to break the deadlock.The visitors earned a lucky equalizer just 24 seconds after ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League: Milner late goal put Liverpool back on top

Liverpool moved two point clear at the top of the Premier league table after thrashing Fulham 2-1 at Craven cottage this afternoon thanks to a late James Milner penalty.Liverpool went in to the game in confident mood following their Champions League victory over Bayern Munich and they opened the scoring midway through the first half when Sadio Mane fired home from 8 yards in the 26th minute following good work from Roberto Firmino.Fulham kept themselves in the game without really threatening the Liverpool goal too much but the visitors gifted them an equaliser in the 74th minute when a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson led to Ryan Babel tapping home against his former side to make it 1-1.However, Liverpool were gifted the perfect opportunity to snatch a vital win when Fulham goalk...
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SERIE A

Juventus end Unbeaten run in Genoa

Stefano Sturaro, who joined Genoa on loan from Juventus in January before the deal was made permanent, put the home side in front in the second half before fellow substitute Goran Pandev secured the shock result with 10 minutes remaining.Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a remarkable European comeback for the Italian champions on Tuesday when he scored a hat-trick to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat against Atletico and send his side through to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win.However, the Portuguese was left out of the matchday squad for the trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri was left frustrated as Genoa took points off his side for the second time this season, having drawn 1-1 in Turin in October.“I expected a different Juventus," Allegri told Italia...
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LALIGA

Sports director Monchi returns to Sevilla

Former Roma Sports Director “Monchi” Rodriguez has returned to spain as Sevilla Sporting director.Monchi had left Sevilla two years ago to join Roma, but he left the Italian club last week after poor results.Monchi is credited with playing a large role in transforming Sevilla into a championship club thanks to his scouting system that allowed him to sign affordable talents that then became lucrative stars. Among his top discoveries are Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos, Jose Antonio Reyes and Ivan Rakitic.During his 17 years in charge of the club’s signings and transfers, Sevilla won a record five Europa League titles, plus two Copa del Rey titles, one European Super Cup and a Spanish Super Cup.He will start his second stint with Sevilla on April 1, the club says on Sunday.Current sp...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Maurizio Sarri want Chelsea to be more consistent in attack

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri insist his side must improve in attack as they bid to secure Champions League qualification.The Blues boss Sarri believes his team have tightened up defensively during a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions which has dragged him back from the brink of dismissal.But the Blues remain the lowest scoring of the Premier League’s top six clubs with 50 goals in 29 matches.And, on the back of Thursday’s 5-0 Europa League thrashing of Dynamo Kiev, Sarri wants more consistency in up front.“Sometimes we’ve played with very good quality in the offensive phase, and sometimes not,” he said.“We started to defend in a very good way in the last month, I think.“Now we need to start in the offensive phase to play every match with the same ideas.“At the moment, we are not ab...
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LALIGA

Real Sociedad and Levante share spoil

Borja Mayoral’s late equaliser secured Levante a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad in LaLiga.The 21-year-old, on loan from Real Madrid, struck 11 minutes from time to cancel out Adnan Januzaj’s first-half opener.Former Manchester United winger Januzaj struck in the 27th minute with a close-range finish from Theo Hernandez’s cross.Januzaj almost added a second for La Real five minutes later but his free-kick was just too high.Mikel Oyarzabal and Sandro Ramirez missed presentable chances to add to the lead, while Mayoral was denied an equaliser by a point-blank save from Geronimo Rulli just after the hour mark.But Mayoral crashed in the leveller when he met Jose Campana’s low corner 10 yards out and drilled the ball first time inside the near post.The hosts pushed for a...
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UCL

Champions League: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United have no fear of playing Barcelona at Camp Nou

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not afraid of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday.Manchester United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.But with Manchester City due to play their quarter-final second leg against Tottenham at home in the same week, UEFA decided to make United host Barcelona in the first leg on 10 April, after stipulating in advance following advice from local authorities that United and City could not play at home on successive nights."I'm probably completely different to 99 per cent of managers, as I prefer away last like we had against PSG (in the previous round)," So...
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BUNDESLIGA

Schalke 04 sack manager Domenico Tedesco following Champions league defeat to Manchester city

Schalke 04 have sacked manager Domenico Tedesco after Manchester City 7-0 win at Etihad Stadium in the Champions League last-16, losing 10-2 on aggregate.The Bundesliga side are also languishing in 14th in the German top flight, just four points clear of the relegation play-off spot.They’ve lost their last five games and Schalke's top boss have decided enough is enough and have relieved Tedesco of his managerial duties.Tedesco, 33, was appointed in July 2017 having also managed the club’s under-19 side between July 2016 and March 2017.
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LALIGA

Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele ruled out for four weeks with hamstring injury

FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that French winger Ousmane Dembele will be out of action for three to four weeks after suffering a hamstring tear in Wednesday's Champions League home win over Olympique Lyon."He has torn the femoral biceps muscle in his left hamstring. This means he will be out of action for an expected three or four weeks," informed the Barcelona website.Dembele started Wednesday's 5-1 win as a substitute after suffering a problem in the same muscle towards the end of Barca's game against Rayo Vallecano last weekend.Despite the obvious risk, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde saw the need to use him as a second half substitute after Lyon had brought the score to 2-1 on the night on and had Barca on the back foot, just a goal from being eliminated.Dembele's pace was vital in h...
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NEWS

Aubameyang brace helps Arsenal hit back to reach Europa league quarter-finals

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored two goal and set up another as Arsenal overturned a two-goal deficit to reach the Europa League quarterfinals with a 3-0 home win over Rennes on Thursday.There were two upsets, though, as five-time champion Sevilla and Inter Milan were both eliminated.Sevilla lost 4-3 at Slavia Prague after conceding a last-minute goal in extra time to go out 6-5 on aggregate, while Eintracht Frankfurt beat Inter 1-0 to advance.At the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang celebrated his second goal by pulling on a Black Panther mask he had placed behind the advertising boards, after coming to the rescue for an Arsenal side that lost the first leg 3-1 in France last week.The Gunners erased that deficit in just 15 minutes, with Aubameyang scoring early and then setting up Ainsley...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Yan Valery signs new contract with Southhampton until 2023

Yan Valery has signed a new long-term contract with Southhampton that keeps him until 2023.The 20-year-old French sensation, who has earned rave reviews for his performances under Ralph Hasenhuttl, only had just over a year left to run on his previous deal.Valery’s performances, which convinced Hasenhuttl to loan out experienced international Cedric Soares, had attracted the attentions of a string of major clubs who were alerted to his talent and were on stand-by to pounce if he didn’t pen a new deal at St Mary’s. Hasenhuttl said: “Yan’s development has been fantastic in the last few months. I think he is a player who embodies precisely the philosophy of Southhampton,as he is young and forward-thinking. “He has been given trust by us, and in return he has shown exactly what we want to see,...
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LALIGA

Messi praises Ronaldo magical night against Atletico Madrid

Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted two more in the 5-1 win over Lyon at Camp Nou on Wednesday night, just 24hrs after Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Juventus to overturn a two-goal first leg deficit and grab a 3-2 aggregate win.“What Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus did was impressive,” Messi told Marca.“I thought Atletico Madrid would be tougher. Ronaldo had a magical night with three goals.”Messi was coy about revealing his favoured opponents for the quarter-finals after a spree of upsets already, with Ajax vanquishing Real madrid and Manchester United knocking out Paris Saint-Germain.“All of the opponent are complicated, Messi added.“Ajax, for example, showed that they are an amazing team of youngsters and they don't fear anyone.“It'll be difficult no matter who we face. We have to p...
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TRANSFERS

Juventus are eyeing PSG striker Kylian Mbappe

Juventus are hoping to secure a deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.The striker signed for the Ligue 1 champions for £154million in the summer of 2017, initially on loan from Monaco, before completing the deal the following year. Now it looks as though Massimiliano Allegri's side are ready to tempt Mbappe with a move away from Paris.The Serie A side's sporting director, Fabio Paratici, promised to fans during dinner, after watching his side defeat Atletico Madrid, that he 'would do everything' to sign Mbappeaccording to Tuttosport.Mbappe's PSG side were knocked out of the Champions League in the last-16 by Manchester United.While Juventus, inspired by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, turned around a 2-0 deficit against Atletico to progress to the quarter-finals 3-2 o...
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UCL

Klopp claim Liverpool are back in big football after victory at Munich

Liverpool sealed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening with a 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena over Bayern Munich.Sadio Mane scored twice with Virgil van Dijk adding another as Liverpool made an admittedly less than vintage Bayern look well below average, despite Klopp’s side not even playing at their best.Nonetheless, Bayern are considered European heavyweights and were genuine contenders for this season’s European Cup, and Liverpool rocking up in Germany and winning so emphatically in their backyard says much about the Anfield club.Klopp is of the same opinion, with the Liverpool manager believing the club are now returning to the top table of European football.“It’s massive, a big step for us,” said Klopp.“We will see what we can do with it but it’s still f...
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NEWS

Gareth Bale named in Wales squad for opening Euro 2020 qualifier

Ryan Giggs has included Gareth Bale in a 31-man squad for Wales’ opening Euro 2020 qualifier despite missing Real Madrid’s last game.The Real Madrid winger turned his ankle in the closing moments of Real’s Champions League defeat by Ajax and sat out the 4-1 LaLiga win at Real Valladolid on Sunday.Rotherham midfielder Will Vaulks is called up for the first time as James Chester and Andy King miss out through injury.Aston Villa defender Chester has not played since the end of January because of a knee problem, while Leicester midfielder King will not play again this season after damaging an ankle during a loan spell at Derby.Ryan Giggs’ squad meet Trinidad and Tobago in a Wrexham friendly on March 20 before starting their Euro 2020 campaign against Slovakia in Cardiff four days later....
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TRANSFERS

Tottenham reportedly target Milan defender Davide Calabria

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing AC Milan defender Davide Calabria, according to reports in Italy.Calabria has made 21 Serie A appearances so far this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.Report claimed Manchester United are monitoring Calabria as a potential replacement for Antonio Valencia, who is set to leave Old Trafford this summer.It is believed Milan want Calabria to sign a new contract as a result of the 22-year-old’s defensive improvement this season.Tottenham have three right-backs in the their first-team squad but there have been question marks over the quality of Kieran Trippier, Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters this term.One of the three could leave this summer. It is more likely to be Aurier, who was linked with a move to China in January, or Walker...
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