November 2021 – Page 5 – Football Flame    

Month: November 2021

LALIGA

Xavi lays down the law after unveiling as Barcelona’s new coach

Newly-appointed FC Barcelona's Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez poses for pictures during his presentation ceremony at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on November 8, 2021.Xavi Hernandez said Barcelona’s players will have to play by his rules and raise their standards as the club’s new coach laid down a firm message at his unveiling on Monday.Xavi was presented in front of almost 10,000 fans at Camp Nou before signing his contract on the pitch, alongside his family and Barca president Joan Laporta.The 41-year-old, who has returned to the club where he won eight Spanish first-division titles and four Champions Leagues as a player, walked out to chants of “Xavi, Xavi” from his adoring supporters.Laporta said: “Today will be an historic day for Barca.”Despite club debts of more than €1 billion (...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Antonio Conte already loses cool with Tottenham squad after ‘screaming’ at poor pass

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte gives instructions on the touchline during the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday November 7, 2021. It has not taken long for Antonio Conte to lose his cool with his new side after screaming at his players during Tottenham's draw against Everton.Spurs hired the feisty Italian last week after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo four months after appointing him to succeed Jose Mourinho.And one of the first orders for the ex-Chelsea boss was to get Tottenham firing back in front of goal.But they failed to do so against Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park after a 0-0 draw that left both sets of fans less than pleased.However, they were not the only ones with Conte fuming on the sidelines - particularly with his players' in...
LALIGA

LaLiga: Xavi unveiled as Barcelona coach to fans at Camp Nou

Xavi Hernandez presented as a new coach of FC Barcelona with the president Joan Laporta at Camp Nou Stadium on 8th of November, 2021 in Barcelona.Xavi Hernandez was unveiled as Barcelona’s new coach on Monday as thousands of fans welcomed the debt-ridden club’s legendary former midfielder back to Camp Nou.Xavi walked out to chants of "Xavi, Xavi" before signing his contract on the pitch, alongside his family and Barca president Joan Laporta.“I don’t want to get too emotional so I will just tell you one thing — we are the best club in the world," Xavi told the crowd of around 10,000 fans."And we will work to the highest standards to have success. We cannot accept defeats or draws, we have to win every game.”Laporta said: "Today will be an historic day for Barca."Xavi: "I don't wanna cry, bu...
NEWS

Marseille held by 10-man Metz

06 Junior SAMBIA (mhsc) - 02 Arnaud SOUQUET (mhsc) - 25 Florent MOLLET (mhsc) during the Ligue 1 match between Nice and Montpellier at Allianz Riviera on November 7, 2021 in Nice, France.Nice wasted a chance to move into second place in the French league when it lost 1-0 at home to Montpellier on Sunday.Nice needed only a draw to overtake Lens on goal difference but remains third and leads fourth-place Marseille, also on goal difference.The defeat means runaway league leader Paris Saint-Germain stays 10 points clear.Andy Delort started up front for Nice against the club that sold him this summer in a move that angered Montpellier fans.His former teammate, Florent Mollet, who used to set up Delort for goals, netted the winner for sixth-place Montpellier in the 80th minute.Earlier, Marseille...
SERIE A

Milan derby draw allows Napoli to keep top spot

Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale evades challenge from Davide Calabria of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 7, 2021 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan missed the chance to go top of Serie A on Sunday after a 1-1 derby draw with Inter Milan which allowed Napoli to stay at the summit.Stefano Pioli's unbeaten side are level with Napoli on 32 points after a Stefan de Vrij own goal cancelled out Milan old boy Hakan Calhanoglu's 11th-minute penalty for Inter.Milan will be ruing a missed opportunity to claim first place after Napoli could only manage a 1-1 home draw with Verona earlier in the day.Neither side will be happy with the derby point as they both had opportunities to win the match in front of 57,000 fans at the San ...
BUNDESLIGA

Bayer Leverkusen level but their slide continues

Robert Andrich of Bayer 04 Leverkusen scores his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Olympiastadion on November 7, 2021 in Berlin, Germany.Bayer Leverkusen's Robert Andrich tapped in a last minute equaliser for a 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin on Sunday to rescue a point but stretch his side's winless run to four league matches.Hertha thought they had done enough when Stevan Jovetic thumped in for a 42nd minute lead, after controlling the ball with a good first touch and thundering in a shot into the top corner.Leverkusen showed some urgency midway through the second half with Kerem Demirbay forcing two superb saves by Hertha keeper Alexander Schwolow.Leverkusen coach Gerardo Seoane even brought on two 16-year-olds late in the game with Ik...
LALIGA

Valencia cancel out Griezmann stunner

Hugo Guillamon of FC Valencia and Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid battle for the ball during the La Liga Santander match between Valencia CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Mestalla on November 7, 2021 in Valencia, Spain.Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has scored a sensational individual goal against Valencia on Sunday but the LaLiga champions let a two-goal lead slip in stoppage time to draw 3-3 on Sunday.Valencia were trailing 3-1 when seven minutes of time were added on but Hugo Duro scored twice in the final stretch of the game to salvage a point, to the delight of their raucous home fans.Luis Suarez had put Atletico in front in the 35th minute but Valencia levelled five minutes into the second half through an own goal from Stefan Savic.Griezmann restored Atletico...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Smith Rowe seals victory for Arsenal

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday November 7, 2021. Emile Smith Rowe scored in a third successive Premier League game as Arsenal claimed victory over Watford in manager Mikel Arteta's 100th match in charge.The in-form Smith Rowe registered the 100th league goal of Arteta's tenure with a low drive from outside the box after 56 minutes.Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (L) vies with Watford's Slovakian midfielder Juraj Kucka (2nd R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Watford at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 7, 2021.Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a first-half penalty saved by...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Aston Villa sack manager Smith after five straight defeats

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith during the Pre-Season Friendly between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on July 31, 2021 in Bristol, England.Aston Villa have sacked manager Dean Smith after three years in charge.Smith, 50, leaves following Villa's 1-0 defeat by Southampton on Friday, the club's fifth successive defeat in the Premier League.Villa are 17th in the league, two points above the relegation zone."This year we have not seen the continuous improvement in results, performances and league position which we have all been looking for," Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said."For this reason we have decided to make a change now to allow time for a new head coach to make an impact."Villa say the process to replace Smith has started but they will not rush into an immediate...
NEWS

Genoa Confirm Appointment of Andriy Shevchenko as Head Coach

Andriy Shevchenko the head coach / manager of Ukraine during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Quarter-final match between Ukraine and England at Olimpico Stadium on July 3, 2021 in Rome, Italy.Serie A side Genoa have appointed Andriy Shevchenko as the club’s new head coach.Andriy Shevchenko Appointed as Genoa Head Coach   Andriy #Shevchenko è il nuovo allenatore del Genoa. Benvenuto, mister!   @jksheva7 is the new Genoa head coach.  #Шевченко  https://t.co/dYPIG2X5fp pic.twitter.com/oxYMb2kcLc— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) November 7, 2021The 45-year-old, who guided Ukraine to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, returns to Italy, where he spent much of his playing career.The former AC Milan and Chelsea forward had been in charge of the Ukrainian national team for five ye...
LALIGA

Xavi’s challenge shown as Barca blow lead

Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay (L) vies with Celta Vigo's Colombian defender Jeison Murillo during the Spanish league football match between RC Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo on November 6, 2021.Barcelona threw away a three-goal lead to underline the issues faced by new coach Xavi as Iago Aspas' last-gasp strike secured a 3-3 draw for Celta Vigo.Blaugrana legend Xavi was named as the new coach earlier on Saturday, but interim boss Sergi Barjuan remained in charge for the trip to Balaidos and Barca appeared to be cruising to victory after first-half goals from Ansu Fati, Sergio Busquets and Memphis Depay.Yet an injury to Fati on the cusp of half-time dented the visitors' confidence, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen's error gifted Aspas a goal to spur Celta...
BUNDESLIGA

Lewandowski’s 60th goal ends Freiburg run

Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (R) and Freiburg's German defender Nico Schlotterbeck vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg in Munich, southern Germany, on November 6, 2021. Robert Lewandowski scored his 60th goal this calendar year, for club and country, as champions Bayern Munich claimed a 2-1 home win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday to end the visiting side's unbeaten start to the season.Leroy Sane and Niklas Sule spurned good chances early on before Bayern took a deserved lead in the 30th minute through Leon Goretzka, who was unselfishly played in by Thomas Mueller after Freiburg lost possession on the edge of the box.The visitors sat deep after the break and soaked up the ...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City outclass Man Utd in derby win

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva scores the second goal of the game past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea (out of pic) during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.Manchester City put the pressure back on Manchester United's struggling manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they cruised to victory with almost embarrassing ease at Old Trafford.City's win may not have been as emphatic as Liverpool's magnificent 5-0 victory here in United's last home league game but the gulf between the sides was certainly as wide.Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (2L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on ...
LALIGA

Carlo Ancelotti admits Eden Hazard is unhappy with lack of minutes

Real Madrid's Belgian forward Eden Hazard (L) walks past Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as he leaves the pitch during the Spanish League football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on September 19, 2021.Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confessed that Eden Hazard is unhappy with his limited role at the club this season.The 30-year-old has featured in ten games in all competitions, but just half of them have been starts and Ancelotti has made no secret of the fact that he prefers young Vinicius Junior, who has nine goals and seven assists in his 15 outings this year.Hazard is, however, expected to see a decent amount of minutes in Saturday's meeting with Rayo Vallecano, before which Ancelotti admitted that the Belgian is strug...
NEWS

Clauss shines as rampant Lens rout Troyes

Jonathan CLAUSS of Rc Lens during the Ligue 1 match between Lens and Troyes at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on November 5, 2021 in Lens, France.Midfielder Jonathan Clauss scored one goal and set up another two as Lens romped to a 4-0 home win over Troyes in Ligue 1.The resounding victory on Friday moved them up two places to second behind leaders Paris St Germain.The result left Lens on 24 points from 13 games, seven behind PSG who visit 16th-placed Bordeaux in Saturday's standout fixture, while Troyes slipped to 15th on 13 points.Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga fired Lens ahead in the 14th minute after a fine low cross by Clauss, while Wesley Said made it 2-0 in the 30th after the midfielder floated in another superb delivery from the right flank.Jonathan CLAUSS of Rc Lens celebrates with his ...
BUNDESLIGA

Mainz fight back to draw with Gladbach

Silvan Widmer of 1. FSV Mainz 05 celebrates after scoring 1:1 during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Mönchengladbach at Opel Arena on November 5, 2021 in Mainz, Germany. An impressive equaliser from Silvan Widmer has earned Mainz a 1-1 home draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach to keep them flying high in the Bundesliga.Widmer curled in his first goal for Mainz with his weaker left foot, beating keeper Yann Sommer high into the net via the far post in the 76th minute.It was a thoroughly deserved leveller for Mainz who created enough chances in a second half they dominated to win the game.Sommer magnificently denied Lee Jae Sung, twice, and Jonathan Burkhardt before finally succumbing.Gladbach in contrast had been the more dangerous in the first half but only ha...
SERIE A

Super-sub Zurkowski shines for Empoli

Szymon Zurkoski of Empoli FC in action during the Serie A match between Empoli FC v Genoa CFC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on November 5, 2021 in Empoli, Italy. Szymon Zurkowski proved to be a super substitute as he set up one goal then scored another for Empoli in a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Genoa in Serie A.Flavio Bianchi equalised for Genoa in the 89th, perhaps saving the job of Genoa coach Davide Ballardini.Empoli moved up to eighth while Genoa, who have only one win from 12 matches, moved one spot above the drop zone.Szymon Zurkoski of Empoli FC celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Serie A match between Empoli FC v Genoa CFC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on November 5, 2021 in Empoli, Italy.Zurkowski first set up Federico Di Francesco in the centre of the 18-y...
LALIGA

Cadiz win to escape La Liga drop zone

Salvi Sanchez of Cadiz CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Athletic Club and Cadiz CF at San Mames Stadium on November 7, 2021 in Bilbao, Spain.An early strike from Salvi Sanchez proved enough for Cadiz to register a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao and escape the drop zone in La Liga.Sanchez scored in the sixth minute from a tight angle following a pass by Anthony Lozano at San Mames Stadium.Unai Simon saved Bilbao from falling further behind when the Spain goalkeeper saved a shot by Alberto Perea after he stole the ball from defender Unai Nunez.But Bilbao were never able to break down Cadiz's disciplined defence to get an equaliser.Salvi Sanchez of Cadiz CF celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the LaLiga...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Aston Villa lose to Southampton for fifth defeat

Southampton's Adam Armstrong (centre) scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at St Mary's, Southampton. Picture date: Friday November 5, 2021.Aston Villa suffered a fifth successive Premier League defeat as Adam Armstrong's stunning early strike earned Southampton a deserved 1-0 home victory on Friday.Former Blackburn Rovers forward Armstrong had not scored since his debut on the opening game of the season but ended his drought in powerful strike in the third minute.A lacklustre Villa were fortunate not to be further behind before halftime as Southampton wasted some good chances and although they improved after the break Dean Smith's side did not do enough to merit a point.Southampton's third win in four league games moved them up to 12th place with 14 p...
NEWS

Italy squad to face Switzerland and Northern Ireland: Pobega’s first call-up

Head coach Italy Roberto Mancini and Federico Chiesa of Italy speak during a Italy training session on October 09, 2021 in Florence, Italy.Italy coach Roberto Mancini has announced the squad for the World Cup Qualifiers against Switzerland and Northern Ireland, with Nicolò Zaniolo back in the team and Tommaso Pobega’s first call-up.The Azzurri have released the squad list for the qualifiers this month, as Mancini’s men are preparing to play Switzerland on November 12 and Northern Ireland three days later.There are some surprises in the squad, as Zaniolo returns after missing out on the UEFA Nations League games last month.Milan duo Sandro Tonali and Tommaso Pobega are on the list, with the latter impressing on loan at Torino this term.Head coach Italy Roberto Mancini and Federico Chiesa of...
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