March 2020 – Page 4 – Football Flame

Month: March 2020

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UCL

Leipzig beats Tottenham to reach Champions League quarters

Patrick Schick of RB Leipzig, Angelino of RB Leipzig, Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig, Marcel Sabitzer of RB Leipzig, Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig, celebrates the 2-0 during the UEFA Champions League match between RB Leipzig v Tottenham Hotspur at the Red Bull Arena on March 10, 2020 in Leipzig Germany.RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer scored two early goals as they eased past last year's finalists Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday to reach their first quarter-finals by 4-0 on aggregate.Sabitzer fired the German side in front with a low shot from about 20 metres after 10 minutes and they never looked back, pinning the visitors, who were without injured strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, in their own half.Leipzig's captain was given far too much ...
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UCL

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool are ready for Atletico’s antics at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood training ground on March 10, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Liverpool FC will face Atletico Madrid in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match on March 11, 2020. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will warn his players again about Atletico Madrid’s gamesmanship, but admits this time he will not be forced into protecting them against red cards.In the first leg of their last-16 Champions League 1-0 defeat in the Wanda Metropolitano, Klopp substituted Sadio Mane as he feared he would be dismissed after being targeted by Atletico.The hosts generated contact with the Senegal international, already on a yellow card, tried to manufacture a foul and then wildly remonstrated with the Polish referee Szymon Ma...
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UCL

PSG's Champions League clash with Dortmund will be behind closed doors

Moenchengladbach's Swiss defender Nico Elvedi and Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Moenchengladbach v Borussia Dortmund in Moenchengladbach, western Germany on March 7, 2020.Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg meeting between PSG and Borussia Dortmund will be played behind closed doors in Paris, it was confirmed this morning.Due to an escalation of concern over the Coronavirus spread French authorities moved to ban gatherings of over 1,000 people over the weekend, a ruling that leaves sporting events in limbo.PSG will start 2-1 down and in front of an empty Parc de Princes. Their scheduled Ligue 1 match in Strasbourg yesterday was also postponed due to the spread of Covid-19.To...
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SERIE A

Dybala sends Juventus top with behind-closed-doors win over Inter Milan

Paulo Dybala of Juventus scores the goal of of 2-0 during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium played behind closed doors after rules to limit the spread of Covid-19 have been put in place on March 8, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-0 to go back top of Serie A, one point ahead of Lazio, on Sunday night.The goals came from Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala.Juve now have 63 points to Lazio's 62.Inter are eight points behind Lazio on 54, with a game in hand."There's still a long way to go," said Bianconeri coach Maurizio Sarri after winning the so-called 'derby of Italy".The match was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus.On the possibility of Serie A being halted, Nerazzurri coach Antonio Conte said "I hope the best decisions ar...
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LALIGA

Zidane takes blame for Real Madrid's defeat to Real Betis

Coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Betis Sevilla v Real Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 8, 2020 in Sevilla Spain.Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid's manager, took responsibility for 1-2 loss against Real Betis in the ongoing La Liga, and said that the team will fight till the end in the competition.In the match against Madrid, Betis opened the scoring with Sidnei getting a goal in the 40th minute of the match. However, Madrid got an equaliser before the half-time through Karim Benzema.In the second half, Christian Tello scored the match-winning goal in the 82nd minute for Betis."We didn't get anything, and I'm to blame for it. I have to look at what happened; we're going to fight the league to the end. I am with my players till ...
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SERIE A

Boban sacked by AC Milan over spat with Gazidis

2019/09/26: Zvonimir Boban, Chief Football Officer of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A football match between Torino FC and AC Milan. Torino FC won 2-1 over AC Milan.AC Milan have officially announced on their website that Chief Football Officer Zvonimir Boban's contract has been terminated. The former Rossoneri No. 10 has been with the club just nine months after leaving his role as the Deputy Secretary General of FIFA. Boban was involved in a public spat with CEO Ivan Gazidis last week where he accused the latter of going behind the back of the technical directors to approach Ralf Rangnick thus undermining their roles as we reported here.The club statement notably read, “The Club will keep supporting Stefano Pioli and his first team in all areas and is optimistic looking ahead to ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool set English record after beating Bournemouth at Anfield

Jack Simpson of Bournemouth battles with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on March 7, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Liverpool took another significant step towards winning the Premier League title and bounced back from consecutive defeats by beating Bournemouth 2-1 at Anfield. The struggling visitors stunned the home fans when Callum Wilson opened the scoring after just nine minutes, profiting from VAR’s decision not to penalise him for an apparent push on Joe Gomez.Mohamed Salah calmed the growing nerves, however, when he latched onto Sadio Mane’s pass, twisted onto his left foot and fired inside Aaron Ramsdale’s near post. Mane, himself, got the winner just past the half hour mark when he seized onto V...
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BUNDESLIGA

Leipzig held to goalless draw at Wolfsburg, Leverkusen hammers Frankfurt

Wolfsburg's Swiss midfielder Renato Steffen (L) and Leipzig's Austrian midfielder Konrad Laimer (R) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between VfL Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig in Wolfsburg, northern Germany on March 07, 2020.Leipzig looked set to drop further back in the Bundesliga title race after a 0-0 draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen crushed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 to force its way into the Champions League places.Leipzig lacked firepower up front after leaving top scorer Timo Werner on the bench ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Tottenham.Wolfsburg has one of the league's best defensive records and looked more than comfortable holding Leipzig at bay as Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg missed scoring ...
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LALIGA

Valencia held at Alaves to 1-1 before crucial Atalanta visit in Champions League

Victor Laguardian of Deportivo Alaves reacts during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Valencia at Estadio de Mendizorroza on March 6, 2020 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.Valencia was held at Alaves to 1-1 on Friday, four days before it must overcome a big deficit to stay in the Champions League.Valencia’s winless streak on the road reached five consecutive games as it stayed in seventh place in the Spanish league.Valencia will host Italian side Atalanta on Tuesday without spectators at Mestalla Stadium for fears of the coronavirus outbreak. Atalanta won the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie 4-1.Midfielder Dani Parejo put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute when he drove a free kick into the top corner of the net for his eighth goal in the competition.After Valencia...
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NEWS

Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay over fake passport claims

Brazilian retired football player Ronaldinho (C) arrives at Asuncion's Justice Palace to testify about his irregular entry to the country, in Asuncion, on March 6, 2020. - Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country, authorities said Wednesday.Retired footballer Ronaldinho has been arrested in Paraguay after authorities said he entered the country with falsified documents.The 39-year-old Brazilian and his brother, Roberto Assis, were taken to a police station in Asuncion shortly before 10pm on Friday, Paraguay’s prosecutors office said in a statement.Ronaldinho’s lawyer Sergio Queiroz confirmed the arrest and said his legal team in Paraguay has filed an injunction to releas...
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NEWS

Odion Ighalo scores twice to fire Manchester United into FA Cup quarters

Odion Ighalo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-3 during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Derby County and Manchester United at Pride Park on March 5, 2020 in Derby, England.Odion Ighalo scored twice in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Derby County on Thursday night as we booked our place in the FA Cup quarter-final, where we’ll face Norwich away.All the talk before the game was about United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who now has the role of player/coach at Derby, but it was Ighalo who stole the plaudits.With Marcus Rashford ruled out for much of the remainder of the season, Ighalo was the surprise January signing from China, but to his credit, he’s done well in the limited appearances he’s had. With three goals in two starts, he’s picking up ...
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NEWS

Yuri breaks Granada's hearts to set up all-Basque final

Yuri Berchiche of Athletic Bilbao celebrates scoring his team's goal during the Copa del Rey Semi Final second leg match between Granada CF and Athletic Club at Nuevo Los Carmenes on March 05, 2020 in Granada, Spain.Athletic Club are through to the Copa del Rey on away goals after a late strike from Yuri Berchiche broke Granada hearts in the teams’ semi-final second leg at Los Carmenes on Thursday.The Basques took a slender 1-0 lead into this match after Iker Munian’s strike separated the sides at San Mames three weeks ago and it looked like Gaizka Garitano’s side might pay for their poor finishing in Bilbao as Granada too the lead early in the second half.Darwin Machis crossed from the left and Carlos Fernandez glanced a superb header past Unai Simon to level the tie after 48 minutes and ...
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NEWS

Gelson Martins handed six-month ban for pushing referee

Gelson Martins #11 of Monaco moves in to push referee Mikael Lesage after receiving a red card during the Nimes V Monaco, French Ligue 1, regular season match at Stade des Costieres on February 1st 2020, Nimes, France.Monaco winger Gelson Martins has been suspended for six months by the French league after pushing a referee during a game last month.The 24-year-old Portugal international shoved Mikael Lesage in the chest, moments after the referee had sent off his teammate Tiemoe Bakayoko during a 3-1 loss at Nimes on Feb. 1.Martins was also sent off by Lesage, and had been provisionally suspended.But the French league's disciplinary committee made his suspension permanent “for an act of brutality” after its weekly meeting on Thursday.
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal Midfielder Torreira suffers fractured ankle during FA Cup win at Portsmouth

Lucas Torreira of Arsenal is treated before he is carried off on a stretcher during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England.Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira suffered a fractured ankle during Monday's FA Cup fifth round win against Portsmouth.Torreira, 24, had to be carried off on a stretcher after just 16 minutes following a challenge by Portsmouth defender James Bolton.No timescale has yet been put on his recovery, with Arsenal waiting for "further specialist reviews".Torreira has made 33 appearances for Arsenal this season.Meanwhile, defender Kieran Tierney is back in full training after recovering from a dislocated shoulder.Injuries have restricted the Scotland international to just 11 appearances for th...
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NEWS

Real Sociedad Beat Mirandes, Advance to 2020 Spanish Copa del Rey Final

Mickael Malsa of CD Mirandes competes for the ball with Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad during the Copa del Rey semifinal 2nd leg match between Mirandes and Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Anduva on March 04, 2020 in Miranda de Ebro, Spain.Real Sociedad became the first club to book their place in the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey knockout competition for the first time in 32 years after a 1-0 win away to second division Mirandes on Wednesday night.Mikel Oyarzabal's first half penalty gave the side from San Sebastian a win on the night and made good their 2-1 win from the first leg to give them a 3-1 triumph on aggregate.There was little two choose between the two sides in the first half, with neither team allowing the other space in midfield. The best chance was for Real Socied...
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NEWS

FA Cup Results:Man City and Leicester advance to quarter-finals, Tottenham knocked out by Norwich City on penalties

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (centre) and Sheffield Wednesday's Joey Pelupessy (right) battle for the ball Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Hillsborough 04-03-2020 . Manchester City won a 20th consecutive domestic cup tie to move into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday as Tottenham crashed out on penalties to Norwich on Wednesday.Sergio Aguero scored the only goal for the holders eight minutes into the second half as Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith failed to get a strong enough hand to the Argentine's low strike.A solitary goal was scant reward for the dominance of Pep Guardiola's men as the Catalan was rewarded for naming a strong line-up against the Championship side.Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus missed gloriou...
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NEWS

Mbappe hat-trick fires PSG into French final

Kylian MBAPPE of PSG celebrates after putting his side 5-1 ahead during the French Cup semi-final between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint Germain on March 4, 2020 in Lyon, France. Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the final of the French Cup with a thumping 5-1 win at Lyon on Wednesday.The World Cup winner took his goal tally in all competitions to 30 during a win that was eased by Fernando Marcal being sent off just before Neymar put the French champions ahead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.The defeat Lyon ends a five-match unbeaten run that included an impressive 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League and the weekend's triumph over local rivals Saint-Etienne.Mbappe equalized for the away side with a simple tap-in just three minutes...
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BUNDESLIGA

Leipzig pegged back by Leverkusen in title race

Leverkusen's Jamaican midfielder Leon Bailey (R) and Leipzig's Czech forward Patrik Schick (L) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match RB Leipzig v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in Leipzig, eastern Germany on March 1, 2020.RB Leipzig's title chase hit a snag when they drew 1-1 at home against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday to drop three points behind leaders Bayern Munich.Leon Bailey tapped in a Kai Havertz assist on the half hour to put the visitors ahead but their lead only lasted two minutes with Patrik Schick  high to head in a cross from Christopher Nkunku for his seventh league goal.Leipzig, who had won the last three games in all competitions, and their opponents did little after the break to even come close to scoring, leaving them both with a point.Leip...
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LALIGA

Real Madrid beat Barcelona with goals from Vinicius and Mariano

Vinicius Jr of Real MAdrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 01, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid showed their character by beating Barcelona 2-0 in Sunday's top-of-the-table 'Clasico', leapfrogging their rivals at the La Liga summit after a week in which their pride had taken a beating at home and in Europe.Brazilian teenager Vinicius Jr scored the opener in the 71st minute with a strike that deflected off Gerard Pique, flummoxing goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who had made some jaw-dropping saves, and substitute Mariano added the second in added time.Real's victory means they lead the standings on 56 points after 26 games, with Barca slipping to second spot on 55, while ...
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SERIE A

Zapata nets 3 as Atalanta puts on a show in 7-2 win at Lecce

Duvan Zapata of Atalanta celebrates after scoring his team's 4th goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Atalanta BC at Stadio Via del Mare on March 1, 2020 in Lecce, Italy.On a day when one of Serie A’s biggest matches was postponed, Atalanta offered up a spectacle of its own for its travelling fans, who had their temperature checked before watching Atalanta rout Lecce 7-2 Sunday.Duvan Zapata scored a hat trick for the visitors.Despite the biggest clusters of coronavirus infections being in the Lombardy region, where Atalanta is based, fans were allowed to travel to the match in the south.Atalanta had sold more than 200 tickets but only around 30 fans made the trip and they had their temperature taken before entering the stadium by medics wearing protective face masks and glove...
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