August 2019 – Football Flame

31Aug

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Juventus snatch late winner against Napoli

Juventus beat Napoli in a remarkable Serie A game as Kalidou Koulibaly's injury-time own goal negated the visitors' three-goal comeback.The champions led 3-0 through goals from debutant Danilo, former Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo's first of the season.But three summer signings scored to put Napoli level - Kostas Manolas, Hirving Lozano and Giovanni di Lorenzo.That was in vain as Koulibaly shinned a deep free-kick past his own keeper.Juve, who have won the last eight titles, clearly lacked the presence of captain Giorgio Chiellini - likely to be out for several months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury - at the back, with £67.5m summer signing Matthijs de Ligt making a shaky debut.Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri did not take charge against his former club as he r...

31Aug

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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich thrash Mainz to stay second

Bayern Munich scored six times in a span of 45 minutes to come from a goal down and crush visitors Mainz 05 6-1 on Saturday and climb to seven points from three games, two off the top.After an unexpected home draw on the opening matchday Bayern have now won their last two matches convincingly, scoring nine goals and moving up to seven points.RB Leipzig are top on nine points after their 3-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday. Borussia Dortmund on six points, are in action at Union Berlin later on Saturday. Benjamin Pavard's fine volley in the 36th minute cancelled out Mainz's lead through a Jean-Paul Boetius header and launched Bayern's sustained attack.A sensational David Alaba free kick on the stroke of halftime turned the game around before Ivan Perisic gave Bayern a two-go...

31Aug

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LALIGA

Ansu Fati scores first goal for Barcelona with brilliant header

Barcelona were held by promoted Osasuna as 16-year-old Ansu Fati became the champions' youngest La Liga goalscorer.Roberto Torres gave Osasuna the lead early on with a sweet volley from Brandon's cross.Fati came on at half-time for his second Barca appearance and headed in Carles Perez's cross six minutes later to equalise.Perez then set up Arthur to put Barca ahead with a 16-yard shot but Torres equalised with a late penalty.That kick was awarded after Gerard Pique handled Oier's cross.

31Aug

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man Utd held to draw at Southhampton

Manchester United’s patchy start to the Premier League season continued with a 1-1 draw at 10-man Southampton after a Jannik Vestergaard header cancelled out a brilliant Daniel James goal for the visitors on Saturday.The result left United on five points from four games after last weekend’s shock 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace while Southampton, who stretched their winless league streak at home against United to nine games, have four points.United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded his team lacked the killer instinct in the opposition half but showed no signs of frustration after a third successive lacklustre performance following the opening 4-0 home win over Chelsea.“We started well, got the game where we wanted it and that’s where you have to score the second and the third and finish...

31Aug

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TRANSFERS

Monreal leaves Arsenal for Real Sociedad

Nacho Monreal has completed his move from Arsenal to Real Sociedad to end a six-and-a-half year spell in north London.The deal is worth a reported 250,000 euros (£225,000), with the 33-year-old left-back signing a two-year deal in San Sebastian.Monreal joined Arsenal from Malaga in January 2013 and won three FA Cups and three Community Shields as a Gunner, scoring 10 goals in 250 appearances.“We would like to thank Nacho for his contribution to the club and everyone at Arsenal wishes him the best for his future,” Arsenal said in a statement.Monreal’s move comes on the eve of the first north London derby of the season, and leaves Arsenal with a defensive shortage in the short-term.Though they signed a long-term replacement in the form of Kieran Tierney in the summer, the Scotland internatio...

28Aug

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TRANSFERS

Celtic sign Stoke defender Moritz Bauer on loan

Celtic have signed right-back Moritz Bauer on a season-long loan deal from Stoke.The 27-year-old Austria international joined the Potters in 2018 and made 21 Sky Bet Championship starts, the last of those coming on the last day of the 2018/19 campaign.Hoops boss Neil Lennon has been looking for cover at right-back, having brought in Hatem Abd Elhamed but allowed Mikael Lustig and Christian Gamboa to leave.Bauer told the club's website: "I'm really, really looking forward to it. I know about the stadium, the historical Celtic Park, and I hope that I can win trophies here and have a very successful season."It's a massive club with a big history and when you see the stadium from the outside and the players there who have already worn the jersey - they are big names."I love being here and havi...

27Aug

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man United suffer injury blow ahead of West Ham and Arsenal clashes

Manchester United could be without defender Luke Shaw for a month after he picked up a hamstring problem in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.The England left-back was substituted in the first half of the shock loss and now faces a spell on the sidelines.Shaw's injury could take up to a month to heal, according to report , which would see him miss six crucial matches for the Red Devils.United's Premier League fixtures during that period are against Southampton, Leicester, West Ham and Arsenal - and would also include the first Europa League group stage match.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was initially hopeful the knock to Shaw was not too serious, and he would be able to play against the Saints.Solskjaer said: "We will do the scans tomorrow, but he felt something in his hamstring."Hopefu...

27Aug

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TRANSFERS

Dost Joins Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year deal

Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed the signing of Bas Dost from Sporting club de Portugal on a three-year deal. The deal has been in the works for a while but hit a stumbling block last week when Sporting accused Dost’s camp for blocking the deal.However, the issues have now been solved and Dost has departed Portugal for a new adventure in Germany. Eintracht Frankfurt has reportedly paid €12 million, while Dost has signed a contract until 2022.Dost signed for Sporting in 2016 from Wolfsburg and managed to score 93 goals in 127 official games. The 30-year-old spent four years with Wolfsburg before that, and scored 48 goals in 117 matches.

26Aug

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SERIE A

Roma Share draw, Milan lose Serie A opener

Genoa came from behind three times against AS Roma to salvage a 3-3 draw, while AC Milan lost 1-0 to Udinese at Stadio Friuli on Sunday on the opening weekend in Italy's Serie A.This was AS Roma's first match under new coach Paulo Fonseca, and the Giallorossi made the perfect start when winger Cengiz Under made it 1-0 six minutes into the game. However, Genoa equalized ten minutes later when Cristian Romero converted Andrea Pinamonti's cross.Roma were back ahead in the 30th minute, when striker Edin Dzeko passed two defenders and fired in. But right at the end of the half, Genoa were level again when Domenico Criscito scored a penalty after Juan Jesus had clattered Pinamonti in the box.Five minutes into the second half, Aleksander Kolarov scored Roma's third with a long-range free kick, bu...

25Aug

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Aguero score a brace to help Man City win at Bournemouth

Sergio Aguero scored twice as the Premier League champions won 3-1 at Bournemouth on Sunday.After Aguero opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Silva set up Raheem Sterling's strike.Harry Wilson briefly gave Bournemouth hope by reducing the deficit to 2-1 with a stunning 25-yard free-kick in first-half stoppage time.But Silva laid off the ball for Aguero's second in the 64th minute to make sure of the victory for City, which saw its 15-match winning run in the league ended by a draw against Tottenham.City dominated possession on the south coast but also survived some shaky moments.With 13 minutes on the clock, City keeper Ederson escaped with a yellow card after racing out of his box and clattering Callum Wilson wide on the Bournemouth left.50th in 123 Premier League appearances, breaking ...