February 2023 – Page 4 – Football Flame

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Serie A: Giroud strike ends AC Milan’s winless run

Olivier Giroud of AC Milan celebrates with his team-mate Pierre Kalulu after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 10, 2023 in Milan, Italy.AC Milan ended their seven-game winless run in all competitions after a second-half header by Olivier Giroud earned a 1-0 home win over courageous Torino in Serie A on Friday. Milan, who last won a game over a month ago when the league resumed following the World Cup break, moved provisionally up to third from sixth in the standings on 41 points from 22 games. “I expected a difficult game, it makes you play little and doesn’t let you build cleanly,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. “We worked a lot inside the match, the goal then unblocked us from a mental point of vie...

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Cadiz FC, Gonzalo Escalante, LALIGA, Sergi Guardiola

Cadiz post home win to escape Spanish league drop zone

Gonzalo Escalante of Cadiz celebrates a goal during the spanish league, La Liga Santander, football match played between Cadiz CF and Girona FC at Nuevo Mirandilla stadium February 10, 2023, in Cadiz, Spain.Cadiz’s work in the transfer market has paid big dividends with the hosts beating Girona to escape momentarily from the Spanish league relegation zone. The 2-0 victory saw the modest team from southern Spain jump from 18th to 15th place, before the rest of the teams get to play in the round. The win dropped Valencia into the bottom three and they are now in danger of the drop. Midfielder Gonzalo Escalante and striker Sergi Guardiola, who both joined Cadiz in the winter transfer market, scored for the hosts. Escalante controlled a cross by Brian Ocampo and fired into the upper part of th...

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Club World Cup, NEWS, Real Madrid

Madrid faces Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal for club world title

Carlo Ancelotti head coach of Real Madrid looks during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid have proven they can find the net even if they must take the field without talisman Karim Benzema in Saturday’s Club World Cup final against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, reigning European and Spanish champions, are aiming to win the competition for a fifth time and build confidence after a shaky start to 2023. Madrid captain Benzema missed the semi-final with a thigh injury but is set to train with the squad on Friday before the final. Los Blancos are already the record four-time winners and are firm favourites to beat Al-Hilal after their 4-1 semi-final victory...

11Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, NEWS

Messi, Mbappe and Benzema nominated for 2022 FIFA Best Men’s Player

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain in action during the French Ligue 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, on February 4, 2023.Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema have been named as the finalists for The FIFA Best Men’s Football Player Award in 2022, soccer’s world governing body FIFA announced on Friday. Messi captained Argentina to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar last year, beating France in a dramatic final. Messi won the tournament’s Golden Ball, while his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe secured the Golden Boot with eight goals. Mbappe’s compatriot Benzema won last year’s Ballon d’Or for winning UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles with Real Madrid but missed the World Cup due to inju...

10Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Liverpool FC, Luis Diaz, PREMIER LEAGUE

Luis Diaz names Liverpool game he hopes to return for after injury update

Luis Diaz of Liverpool, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool before the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on January 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England. Luis Diaz has publicised his hope of making a return from injury in time for Liverpool’s trip to Real Madrid next month. Diaz has not featured since sustaining a knee injury during the Reds’ 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on October 9. The Colombian was named in Liverpool’s mid-season training camp in Dubai during the World Cup hiatus but suffered a setback after returning to training and flew back to England to undergo surgery on the knee issue. Speaking earlier this month, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed Diaz had stepped up his rehabilitation and was now running on grass. However, he admitted it will “take a few w...

10Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Joao Felix, PREMIER LEAGUE, TRANSFERS

Joao Felix reveals feelings on Chelsea stay and insists he ‘doesn’t regret’ Atletico move

Joao Felix of Chelsea shoots the ball during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Chelsea FC at Craven Cottage on January 12, 2023 in London, England.Joao Felix has opened up on his Chelsea future – and whether he wants to return to Atletico Madrid. On-loan Blues forward Felix will return to action against West Ham, having served a three-game suspension for a red card against Fulham. That misdemeanour came on his debut in the west London derby, where he impressed straight out of the blocks, only for a star performance to be cut short. The 23-year-old had just arrived from Atleti, on a six-month loan reportedly worth a whopping £11million. That deal came without any further option to buy, although when Felix was asked about staying by AS, he far from dismissed it. “You don’t have ...

10Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

FIFA, Lionel Scaloni, NEWS

World Cup winner Scaloni leads FIFA ‘Best’ coach award shortlist

Lionel Scaloni takes an honorary kick-off prior to the La Liga Santander match between RCD Mallorca and Real Valladolid CF at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on January 07, 2023 in Mallorca, Spain.Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni, Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola were named as FIFA’s finalists for the 2022 ‘Best’ coach of the year award on Thursday. Scaloni harnessed Lionel Messi’s powers as a battling Argentina impressed at the Qatar World Cup, while Ancelotti’s Real Madrid also showed depth of character in a series of comebacks to eventually win the Champions League. Lyon’s Champions League winner Sonia Bompastor, Brazil’s Pia Sundhage and Sarina Wiegman, who led England to Euro 2022 glory, were the final three in the women’s category. Former ...

10Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League, Lionel Messi, PSG

PSG’s Messi doubtful for Champions League clash with Bayern – L’Equipe

Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain in action during the French Ligue 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, on February 4, 2023.Paris St Germain forward Lionel Messi is a doubt for the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League game against Bayern Munich due to a hamstring problem, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Friday. Messi played the full 90 minutes of PSG’s 2-1 defeat to Olympique Marseille in the French Cup on Wednesday but later felt pain in his hamstring, the report said. It added that the 35-year-old would miss PSG’s Ligue 1 trip to AS Monaco on Saturday, three days before they host Bayern. Messi, who helped Argentina win the World Cup in December, has scored 15 goals in 25 games in all compe...

9Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Fede Valverde

Valverde: “I thank my teammates for their support and help”

Federico Valverde central midfield of Real Madrid and Uruguay in action during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde got back to scoring ways and found the back of the net on the team’s second goal against Al-Ahly. The Uruguayan player hasn’t been in great form after the World Cup break but naturally he’s happy about advancing to the Final but also about finding some momentum. Valverde talked to Real Madrid’s official website after the 4-1 win and shared his thoughts. “I’m really pleased and feel comfortable after so many games. I’m enjoying it more. I’m mentally prepared and I value this tournament so much because of all the hard work we’ve put in to ma...

9Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Malo Gusto

Chelsea loanee Malo Gusto suffers hamstring injury

Chelsea Unveil New Signing Malo Gusto at Chelsea Training Ground on January 27, 2023 in Cobham, England.Malo Gusto has yet to kick a ball in anger for Chelsea, but he’s quite clearly Proper Chels already! The 19-year-old picked up a hamstring injury last night while playing for Olympique Lyonnais, proving that he’d fit right in at Stamford Bridge. Gusto got the start in what was a Round of 16 matchup between Lyon and Lille in the French Cup, but was forced to depart after just 30 minutes, with “huge disappointment in his eyes” and holding the back of his left hamstring. Despite that dramatic line from L’Equipe, Lyon head coach Laurent Blanc doesn’t believe the injury is too severe — but apparently it’s not exactly new either, so hopefully they’ll get him fixed up properly this time. “It’s ...

9Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Jadon Sancho, Manchester United, PREMIER LEAGUE

Sancho earns Man Utd point in thrilling Leeds draw

Jadon Sancho of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on February 8, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho combined to deny managerless Leeds a rare Old Trafford victory as Manchester United came back from two goals down to snatch a point from a thrilling Roses clash. The hosts looked finished when Raphael Varane turned Crysencio Summerville’s cutback into his own net to put Leeds two ahead after Wilfried Gnonto had given them a first-minute lead. But Rashford halved the deficit when he headed home Diogo Dalot’s inviting cross before Sancho, only just back to first-team duties after recovering from physical and mental issues, scored his first P...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus, SERIE A

Vlahovic inspires Juventus to 3-0 win at Salernitana

Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring third goal during the Serie A match between US Salernitana and Juventus FC at Stadio Arechi, Salerno, Italy on 7 February 2023. Dusan Vlahovic proved he is back on form with two goals and an assist to help Juventus win 3-0 at Salernitana in Serie A on Tuesday. That snapped a run of three league matches without a win for Juventus. The streak had left the Bianconeri just nine points above the relegation zone coming into the match at Salerno following a 15-point penalty for false accounting. It also meant the match was a surprise relegation battle with Salernitana just two points further back. But Vlahovic helped Juventus push away from the bottom three. He scored his first goal for the club since October in the 26th minute with...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Lionel Messi, NEWS, PSG

Messi and PSG face potentially season-defining week

Lionel Messi of PSG celebrates his goal with teammates during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse FC (TFC, Tefece) at Parc des Princes stadium on February 4, 2023 in Paris, France. A French Cup trip to bitter rivals Marseille on Wednesday is the start of seven days that could define this season for Paris Saint-Germain, with a Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich approaching. The Bundesliga giants visit the French capital for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next Tuesday, but there will be no easy build-up to that game for PSG. Marseille await them in the bear pit of the Velodrome for a French Cup last-16 tie as the Parisians aim to reclaim a trophy they missed out on last season after winning it six times in the previous seven...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, Sergio Busquets

Busquets leaning towards staying at Barcelona – report

Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona v Getafe CF at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on January 22nd, 2023. Sergio Busquets’s future at Barcelona remains the subject of much speculation but the latest update reckons the captain is leading towards staying for another season. Sport are reporting that Busquets had considered a move but is feeling a lot happier about life at Barcelona after an upturn in form in recent months. Xavi’s switch to using four midfielders also appears to have helped out Busquets and is making the skipper feel more comfortable in the starting XI. Busquets is thought to have offers on the table from clubs in Saudi Arabia and the United States but could now stay for one more season on a reduced wag...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Manchester City, PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City face uncertain future after PL charges

Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Manchester City were the ultra-rich “noisy neighbours” who became the Premier League’s dominant force. But they now face an uncertain future that includes the ultimate threat of relegation. Abu Dhabi-backed City were charged by the English top flight on Monday with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18, and referred to an independent commission. The reigning champions have also been accused of failing to cooperate with investigations by the Premier League. The club faces a range of possible punishments, including a reprimand, points deduction or even expulsion from th...

6Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BARCELONA FC, Gavi, LALIGA, Sevilla

Barcelona go eight points clear by beating Sevilla

Gavi of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-0 with Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona, Andreas Christensen of FC Barcelona, Pedri Gonzalez of FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Sevilla at the Spotify Camp Nou on February 5, 2023 in Barcelona Spain.Barcelona moved eight points clear at the top of La Liga as a clinical second-half performance helped them to a routine victory against Sevilla. After an uneventful first half the hosts took the lead through Jordi Alba’s 58th-minute side-footed finish. Gavi tapped home Raphinha’s cross to double the lead after 71 minutes and the Brazil winger rounded off the scoring by poking in Alba’s cross. Defeat leaves Sevilla 16th, just two po...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BAYERN MUNICH, BUNDESLIGA, Kingsley Coman

Kimmich off but Bayern beat Wolfsburg to go top

Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern München celebrates his goal with team mates during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München at Volkswagen Arena on February 5, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany.Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga table with a comfortable win at Wolfsburg despite playing for more than 30 minutes with 10 men. Kingsley Coman scored twice inside the first 14 minutes and Thomas Muller headed in a third soon after. Jakub Kaminski pulled a goal back just before half-time and Joshua Kimmich was then sent off in the 54th minute. But Jamal Musiala added a fourth for Bayern before Mattias Svanberg netted a late second for Wolfsburg. Kimmich was shown a red card for catching Maximilian Arnold but the champions shrugged off his dismissal as they rallied to e...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Harry Kane, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s Kane sinks Man City with landmark goal

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with Hugo Lloris after becoming the club record goal scorer the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 5, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Harry Kane became Tottenham’s all-time record scorer, surpassing the great Jimmy Greaves, as his 267th goal for the club dented Manchester City’s title ambitions at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The England captain reached the landmark with a composed finish from 10 yards out after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did exceptionally well to find Kane inside the box. Fans jumped from their seats to applaud the 29-year-old striker, whose first Spurs goal came on 15 December 2011, while a message flashed up on the scoreboard inside the ground which read...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA, Mallorca, Real Madrid

Mallorca 1-0 Real Madrid: Nacho own goal condemns defending champions to a shock defeat

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez, Daniel Rodriguez of Real Mallorca, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Antonio Raillo of Real Mallorca, Rodrygo Silva de Goes of Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid argument during the La Liga Santander match between Real Mallorca v Real Madrid at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on February 5, 2023 in Palma de Mallorca Spain.Problems mounted up for Real Madrid just two weeks before they face Liverpool in the Champions League as they went down 1-0 away at Mallorca. The defeat hits their chances of catching leaders Barcelona but there was bad news beyond the result with Thibaut Courtois missing the game after injuring his abductor muscle in the warm-up. They were already without Eder Militao and Karim Benzema and it was ...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, NEWS, PSG

Lionel Messi hits winner as PSG come from behind to beat toulouse

Lionel Messi of PSG, Junya Ito of Reims (left) during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade de Reims at Parc des Princes stadium on January 29, 2023 in Paris, France.Lionel Messi scored a superb second-half winner as a Paris Saint-Germain side missing the injured Kylian Mbappe and Neymar came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday and consolidate their lead at the top of Ligue 1. Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen gave mid-table Toulouse the lead at the Parc des Princes from a 20th-minute free-kick, only for Achraf Hakimi to curl in the equaliser with half-time approaching. Messi then put PSG in front just before the hour mark with a glorious first-time strike on his left foot low into the corner of the net from just outside the area. It was Mess...