December 2021 – Page 6 – Football Flame

Month: December 2021

No Comments
UCL

Allegri hoping Juve get luck of the draw in last-16

Massimiliano Allegri of Juventus during a Champions League press conference on December 7, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Turin - Several Juventus fringe players will start in their final Champions League match against Malmo FF, coach Massimiliano Allegri said yesterday, while hoping for some luck in the last-16 draw.Juventus are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages and are second in Group H, level with first-placed Chelsea on 12 points.They will need to better the English side's result against Zenit St Petersburg to finish on top.But with fixtures coming thick and fast, Allegri revealed that goalkeeper Mattia Perin, defenders Daniele Rugani and Alex Sandro and midfielder Adrien Rabiot will start tonight."Some players will be rested, others will play. But we have to win and finish the g...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Liverpool create European Champions league record with Milan win

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group B match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 7, 2021 in Milan, Italy.Liverpool's second-string side have fought back to knock AC Milan out of Europe with a 2-1 victory at the San Siro as goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi helped the Reds become the first English team to win all six games in a Champions League group stage.Milan needed to win to stand any chance of progressing to the last 16 and went in front through their England defender Fikayo Tomori in the first half to cheer the home support.But Salah soon equalised with his 20th goal of the season in all competitions and Origi, who came on to score an added-time winner against Wolves in the Premier League on...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Mbappe earns record & Messi scores twice in PSG win over Bruges

Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain scoring his 2nd goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge KV at Parc des Princes on December 7, 2021 in Paris, France.Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player to reach 30 Champions League goals as Paris St-Germain rounded off Group A with a win over Club Bruges.The hosts were already guaranteed to qualify for the knockout stage in second place, behind Manchester City, while defeat sees Bruges finish bottom.Mbappe all but put the game to bed inside seven minutes, scoring twice in quick succession for the home side.Lionel Messi also scored twice either side of a Bruges consolation.Mats Rits beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a slotted finish for the visitors, who created several good chances.Mba...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Man City finish group stage with RB Leipzig defeat as Walker sent off

Leipzig's Portugese forward Andre Silva (C) is fouled by Manchester City's English defender Kyle Walker (R) before being sent off next to Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho during the UEFA Champions League, Group A, football match RB Leipzig v Manchester City in Leipzig, eastern Germany on December 7, 2021.Manchester City ended their Champions League group campaign with defeat by RB Leipzig in a match played without fans because of Covid-19 restrictions.Pep Guardiola opted to field a strong side, which included a first club start since 6 November for Kevin de Bruyne, despite last season's runners-up having sealed top spot in Group A with one game to spare.But the Premier League leaders finished the six-match group stage without a clean sheet after Hungary midfielder Dominik...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Rafael Benitez relief after Everton’s ‘perfect’ victory against Arsenal

Everton's Spanish manager Rafael Benítez (C) looks on during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 6, 2021.Manager Rafael Benitez welcomed a “perfect” night after Everton's winless run came to an end in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Goodison Park.Martin Odegaard’s volley in first-half stoppage time put the visitors ahead before Richarlison drew the match level with a 79th-minute header after Demarai Gray hit the bar.Gray then secured Everton's first win in nine Premier League outings by sending a fine strike in off the post in the second minute of time added on at the end.Benitez said post-match: “I think we saw character in the first games (of the season) and today it was ev...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Steven Gerrard tells Aston Villa ‘we can still be better’ after third win in four

Aston Villa's English head coach Steven Gerrard (R) celebrates on the pitch with Aston Villa's Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 5, 2021.Manager Steven Gerrard praised his Aston Villa charges after a 2-1 comeback win over Leicester City but is still demanding more from them as they look to climb the Premier League table.A brace from centre-back Ezri Konsa cancelled out Harvey Barnes’ opener as Villa moved up to 10th in the Premier League on Sunday.It was a third win in four since Gerrard replaced Dean Smith in the Villa Park hot seat last month and the former Rangers boss expects them to continue to improve.“We have come in on the back of fi...
Read More
No Comments
BUNDESLIGA

Freiburg smash six past Borussia Monchengladbach inside 37 first-half minutes in shock victory

Maximilian Eggestein of SC Freiburg celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sport-Club Freiburg at Borussia-Park on December 5, 2021 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. Freiburg produced a devastating first-half performance to rout Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 away on Sunday for their biggest-ever win in the Bundesliga.Six scorers routed the hosts as everything worked in the first 45 minutes for Freiburg, ending a three-game losing run in style to move back up to fourth.Freiburg hadn't beaten Gladbach away in 17 Bundesliga attempts since a solitary 2-1 victory in 1995, and faced a tough task with Gladbach hoping to atone for its 4-1 loss at Cologne in the Rhine derby last weekend.But Freiburg weren't inte...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Immobile strikes twice, 10-man Lazio tops Sampdoria

Ciro Immobile of Lazio scores a goal during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and Ss Lazio at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 5, 2021 in Genoa, Italy.Ciro Immobile scored twice as Lazio comfortably won 3-1 at Sampdoria despite playing the final quarter of the match with 10 men on Sunday in Serie A.Lazio moved level with city rival Roma, nine points behind Atalanta in fourth place and the final Champions League berth.Fiorentina moved into fifth after winning 3-2 at Bologna.Troubled Juventus can move back above Lazio and level on points with Fiorentina if it beats relegation-threatened Genoa later Sunday.Lazio had only picked up one point from its past three league matches and that came in Thursday's extraordinary 4-4 draw against Udinese.It dominated from the start at Sampdoria and w...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham climb to fifth with comfortable win over Norwich

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring the opening goal with team-mates during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 5, 2021 in London, England.  An early goal from Lucas Moura and two after halftime from Davinson Sanchez and Son Heung-min ensured a third successive Premier League win for Tottenham Hotspur as they beat Norwich City 3-0 at home on Sunday.Victory lifted Spurs into fifth place with 25 points from 14 matches, 10 points off the top of the table but with a game in hand, as new manager Antonio Conte continued to make an impact.Moura gave the home side a 10th-minute lead with a shot from outside the penalty area that proved as impressive a finish as the slick build-up that led to it.Sanchez th...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

New Manchester United boss begins era with victory over Crystal Palace

Fred of Manchester United celebrates with team mates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on December 05, 2021 in Manchester, England. Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to earn new caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick a positive start to the Premier League.The hosts grabbed the all-important goal 13 minutes from time when Fred curled his second Premier League goal of the season past Vicente Guaita.The Eagles gave a brave defensive display as they sought to avoid a third consecutive loss, but this would prove futile as United, who were denied on several occasions, kept raiding the visitors area buoyed by the prospect of climbing up the League standings.Fred of Mancheste...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Mourinho has spat with journalist as his Roma side suffer loss to former club Inter

José Mário dos Santos Mourinho head coach of AS Roma reacts during the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on December 4, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Jose Mourinho had another altercation with a journalist as his Roma side were outclassed by former club Inter Milan.The ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss did not take any questions from reporters after the 3-0 defeat but instead made a cynical comment.First half goals from central midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, former Man city striker Edin Dzeko and Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries gave the defending champions a comfortable win in the Stadio Olimpico.Understandbly frustrated, when attending his post-match press conference, the two-time Champions League winner refused to take any questions but ins...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

La Liga: Barcelona suffer first defeat under Xavi Hernandez as Real Betis snatch victory

Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele shoots during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 4, 2021.  Barcelona suffered their first defeat under Xavi Hernandez on Saturday as a 1-0 loss at home to Real Betis inflicted another blow on their hopes of catching La Liga's top four. A surprise defeat at the Camp Nou damages Barca's bid to qualify for next season's Champions League, four days before they attempt to avoid crashing out in the group stage of the current one. Barca have to win at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to be sure of going through.This was hardly ideal preparation as a brilliant Betis counter-attack, finished by Juanmi in the 79th minute, consigned Barca to their fourth league defeat of ...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Maupay rescues Brighton with 98th-minute equaliser at Southampton

Mohammed Salisu and Lyanco Vojnovic of Southampton block Neal Maupay of Brighton & Hove Albion shot during the Premier League match between Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion at St Mary's Stadium on December 04, 2021 in Southampton, England. Neal Maupay rescued another dramatic draw for Brighton with a 98th-minute equaliser against Southampton despite being a man down through injury.Three days after scoring an 89th-minute overhead kick to salvage a point against West Ham, the Frenchman twisted in the box to hammer home the equaliser after being found by Jakub Moder's volleyed cross after his initial free-kick was blocked.Remarkably, on both occasions Brighton found themselves down to 10 men because of injury.Brighton and Hove Albion's Neal Maupay celebrates scoring their side's...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Injury-time Origi winner sends Liverpool top

Divock Origi of Liverpool /.s/ 0-1 during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on December 4, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England.Liverpool went top of the Premier League as substitute Divock Origi scored a last-minute winner to sink Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.Liverpool's Divock Origi celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on December 4, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England.With seconds remaining, Origi latched on to a Mohamed Salah pass, smashing the ball beyond Jose Sa in the Wolves goal. The win meant Liverpool leapfrogged leaders Chelsea, who lost 3-2 to West Ham in Saturday's early kick-off, although they will drop down to second if Manchester City b...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham claim thrilling win against leaders Chelsea

West Ham United's Arthur Masuaku (no.26) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with team-mates during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday December 4, 2021.Arthur Masuaku scored a bizarre late winner as top-four hopefuls West Ham twice came from behind to beat Premier League leaders Chelsea in a pulsating encounter at London Stadium.After collecting the ball wide on the left, Masuaku arrowed a cross-cum-shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy at his near post to send the Hammers supporters into ecstasy.Thiago Silva broke the deadlock for Chelsea in the first half, heading Mason Mount's corner past Lukasz Fabianski via the inside of the post.West Ham United's Arthur Masuaku (no.26) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game w...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Messi worthy of seventh Ballon d’Or victory, says Xavi

Lionel Messi of PSG holding his 7th Ballon d'Or for world's best player in 2021 is honored before the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice (OGCN) at Parc des Princes stadium on December 1, 2021 in Paris, France.Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said former team mate Lionel Messi deserved his Ballon d'Or win, describing the Argentine's record-extending seventh victory as "total justice".Paris St Germain forward Messi, 34, beat Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea's Jorginho to lift the prestigious award after winning the Copa America for the first time with Argentina in July.Lionel Messi of PSG holding his 7th Ballon d'Or for world's best player in 2021 is honored before the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OGC Ni...
Read More
No Comments
BUNDESLIGA

Union Berlin rise to Bundesliga’s top four

Timo Baumgartl of 1.FC Union Berlin celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and RB Leipzig at Stadion An der Alten Foersterei on December 03, 2021 in Berlin, Germany.Defender Timo Baumgartl was the hero as he assisted Union Berlin's opener and bagged the winner himself in a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig which took the capital side into the Bundesliga top four.As snow fluttered down the Union players could celebrate with the vast majority of 13,506 attending fans, who were still allowed into the stadium in large numbers before a 5,000-cap is imposed as part of the latest coronavirus restrictions.Baumgartl poked the winner from close-range in the 57th minute after a well worked corner deflected into his path."Over 90...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Misfiring Kane will score ‘many goals’ says Spurs boss Conte

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 30, 2021 in Enfield, England.Kane has found the net just once in 12 league games during the current campaign as he struggles to recapture the form that made him the English top-flight's leading scorer last season.The England captain, who has won the Golden Boot in three of the past six years, has looked a shadow of his former self since his failed attempt to force a transfer to champions Manchester City in the close-season.The 28-year-old has also admitted he felt mentally and physically drained after England's Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy in July.He failed to score in Tottenham's 2-0 win against Brentford on Thursday, missing a golden opportunity in the se...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

New Dembele-Barca meeting ends without agreement – report

Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona in action during the Santander League match between Villareal CF and FC Barcelona at the Ceramica Stadium on November 27, 2021, in Valencia, Spain.Barcelona’s Mateu Alemany reportedly met with Ousmane Dembele’s agent again on Thursday to continue negotiations about a contract renewal.Cadena SER report the meeting lasted for three hours and Alemany was informed the Frenchman has “very important offers” from clubs in Europe.Barca were also told that Dembele wants to renew but the forward’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, is in absolutely no rush to get a deal done.Dembele and his agent are said to want more money than Barca have offered so far with the Catalans obviously hampered by their financial difficulties.Diario Sport reckon that Barca’s offer was a decrease in D...
Read More
No Comments
TRANSFERS

Real Madrid weighing up sale of key defender

Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid in action during La liga football match played between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on November 28, 2021, in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid are reportedly pondering selling key defender Dani Carvajal due to the drop in his levels in the past year.According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Real Madrid are weighing up the possibility of parting ways with Dani Carvajal in next summer’s transfer window. The Spanish giants are dismayed by the fitness issues that have plagued the 29-year-old and are looking to sign a different player profile for the right-back slot.Dani Carvajal has established himself as one of the best full-backs since returning to Real Madrid from a one-year stint with Bayer Leverkusen. A key figure for Los Blanco...
Read More
Blogarama - Blog Directory