October 2022 – Football Flame

31Oct

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Bologna, SERIE A

Focused Bologna edge out tight 2-1 win away to Monza

Andrea Petagna of AC Monza in action during the Serie A match between AC Monza and Bologna FC at Stadio Brianteo on October 31, 2022 in Monza, Italy.Bologna came back from 1-0 down to pick up an important win away to Monza this evening. The two sides could not be separated in the first half as both fought to try and find an advantage, although the away side looked a little more dangerous as they tentatively pressed up the pitch. The deadlock was finally broken in the 57th minute, when Andrea Petagna converted from the penalty spot to put Monza 1-0 up. Unfortunately for coach Raffaele Palladino and his squad, this seemed to be the wake-up call for Bologna, who immediately managed to respond on the pitch. Thiago Motta’s side netted an equaliser in the 60th minute thanks to Scottish midfiel...

31Oct

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CHELSEA FC, England, Reece James

Chelsea send Reece James to Dubai as he hopes to keep his World Cup dreams alive

Reece James and Ben Chilwell of Chelsea FC discuss during the team's pitch inspection prior to the UEFA Champions League group E match between AC Milan and Chelsea FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 11, 2022 in Milan, Italy.England international Reece James has been sent to Dubai in a bid to keep his World Cup dreams alive as he recovers from injury. The Chelsea defender suffered knee ligament damage in their 2-0 Champions League victory over AC Milan on October 11, with Gareth Southgate sweating over whether the 22-year-old will be fit in time to make the plane to Qatar. Chelsea confirmed in a statement that James, along with French centre-back Wesley Fofana who is also hoping to recover in time for the World Cup, have been sent to Dubai to continue their rehabilitation. The Chelsea...

31Oct

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Belgium, Romelu Lukaku, SERIE A

Lukaku to miss Bayern clash after thigh tweak

Simone Inzaghi head coach of FC Internazionale speaks with Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 29, 2022 in Milan, Italy.Belgium centre-forward Romelu Lukaku is set to miss Inter’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich Tuesday after tweaking an old thigh injury in the Nerazzurri’s 3-0 win over Sassaulo at the weekend, Inter said Monday. Inter are already through to the next phase. Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale is substituted for Romelu Lukaku during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 29, 2022 in Milan, Italy.He is also said to be at a “strong risk” of missing next Sunday’s Serie A match against Juventus. Lukaku, w...

31Oct

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ANTONIO CONTE, PREMIER LEAGUE, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham in talks with Antonio Conte over new contract

Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on prior to kick off of the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Bournemouth, England.Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with Antonio Conte over a new long-term contract. There is confidence at Spurs that they will be able to agree a new deal with the Italian manager. Conte’s current contract at the north London club — agreed when he joined in November last year — expires at the end of this season. But there is an option within that contract to extend it. The former Juventus midfielder impressed after joining Spurs, guiding them to a top-four finish, and his side have started this season in good form. They are third in the Premier League and their hopes of reaching the ne...

31Oct

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Neymar, PSG

Neymar Trial Wraps Up In Spain After Prosecutors Drop Charges

Neymar Jr. of Brazil celebrates after scoring the fourth goal of his team during a match between Peru and Brazil as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Estadio Nacional de Lima on October 13, 2020 in Lima, Peru.Brazilian superstar Neymar's trial in Spain over his transfer to Barcelona in 2013 is expected to wrap up Monday after Spanish prosecutors last week dropped their fraud charges against the player. The 30-year-old and the eight other defendants -- including his parents who manage his affairs and two former Barca presidents -- will be allowed to make closing arguments to the Barcelona court. Neymar, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain who on Wednesday face Juventus in the Champions League, and his parents have been granted permission by the court to testify...

30Oct

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Antonio Candreva, Salernitana, SERIE A

Salernitana stun Lazio, Lookman on target for Atalanta

Antonio Candreva of Salernitana celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Salernitana at Stadio Olimpico on October 30, 2022 in Rome, Italy. Salernitana stunned Lazio with a stormy 3-1 Serie A win on Sunday, ending their hosts’ hot run of form a week from the season’s first Rome derby.Without injured star striker Ciro Immobile, Lazio looked set to claim their sixth win in seven league matches and provisional second place when Mattia Zaccagni rolled them ahead four minutes before half-time in Rome. But Salernitana didn’t lose their heads and came away with their first ever win at the Stadio Olimpico, leaving Lazio fourth and eight points behind league leaders Napoli. Ex-Lazio man Antonio Candreva lobbed Salernitana level in the 51st...

30Oct

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LALIGA, Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr

Ten-man Real Madrid held at home by Girona

Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio eyes the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Girona FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 30, 2022.Real Madrid have been held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu, allowing Barcelona, who won at Valencia on Saturday, to close the gap on the reigning champions to one point.After a goalless first half on Sunday, Real opened the scoring through Vinicius Jr in the 70th minute but their lead was cancelled out by a Cristhian Stuani penalty 10 minutes later.To make matters worse midfielder Toni Kroos was sent off in added time after receiving a second yellow card – the German’s first red card of his career.Real were frustrated for more than an hour before finally making the breakthro...

30Oct

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Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli, PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal put five past Forest to return to top spot

Thomas Partey (R) of Arsenal celebrates with teammates Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka after scoring their team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on October 30, 2022 in London, England. Arsenal bounced back from Thursday's Europa League loss to PSV Eindhoven by returning to the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic win over Nottingham Forest. Gabriel Martinelli headed the Gunners in front early on before England's Bukayo Saka - who set up the opener - was forced off with an injury. Reiss Nelson, Saka's replacement, doubled the lead four minutes after the restart with his first Arsenal goal since November 2020 before quickly adding his second. Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard goals added gloss to t...

30Oct

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Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, PSG

Paris Saint-Germain wins Ligue 1 duel 4-3 against Troyes

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain (R) celebrating his goal with his teammate Lionel Messi of Paris Saint Germain (L) during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and ESTAC Troyes at Parc des Princes on October 29, 2022 in Paris, France. Paris Saint-Germain won a French Ligue 1 week 13 duel Saturday 4-3 against Troyes. Troyes’ Mama Balde gave his team an early lead in the third minute before Carlos Soler leveled in the 24th minute at Parc des Princes in Paris.Balde netted another in the 52nd minute but just three minutes later, Argentine star Lionel Messi took the stage. He sparked the comeback with a screamer, then, his partners in crime, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, scored in the 62nd and 77th minutes, respectively. A goal in the 88th minute by Ante Palaversa was not e...

30Oct

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BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

Valencia 0-1 Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski nets a last-gasp winner

Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona in action during the LaLiga Santander match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Mestalla on October 29, 2022 in Valencia, Spain.Barcelona, bruised after Champions League elimination in midweek, snatched a late 1-0 victory at Valencia on Saturday in La Liga, with Robert Lewandowski stretching to convert a 93rd minute winner. The Polish forward managed to divert Raphinha’s cross home at the death to pull Barcelona level on 31 points with Real Madrid at the top of the table, before the champions host Girona on Sunday. It was a hard-fought win — the Catalans lost centre-backs Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia to injury, and they will be worries for their national teams, France and Spain respectively, ahead of the Qatar World Cup which starts in under t...