February 2023 – Page 5 – Football Flame

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Borussia Dortmund, BUNDESLIGA, Sebastien Haller

Dortmund hail Haller’s first goal after cancer fight

Borussia Dortmund celebrates the goal of Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund (m) during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on February 4, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. Sebastien Haller has scored his first Bundesliga goal since a return from testicular cancer in Borussia Dortmund’s 5-1 rout of Freiburg while Union Berlin returned to the top of the table for at least 24 hours by edging Mainz 2-1. Kevin Behrens and Jordan Siebatcheu were on target on Saturday as Union dethroned 10-time reigning champions Bayern Munich who visit Wolfsburg on Sunday in search of their first league win of the year after three 1-1 draws. Haller, who had missed the first part of the season after undergoing two operations and chemotherapy, headed Dortmund’s thir...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Atletico Madrid, Enes Unal, Getafe, LALIGA

Atletico Madrid held to 1-1 draw against Getafe

(L-R) Stefan Savic of Atletico Madrid, Enes Unal of Getafe CF during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Getafe at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on February 4, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Atletico Madrid dominated the game but were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday by LaLiga’s second-from-bottom side Getafe who equalized late in the second half thanks to an Enes Unal penalty. Atletico missed several chances to take an early lead, eventually scoring in the 60th minute when Angel Correa fired a volley into the net from a rebound. But Getafe secured a precious point away from home in the 83rd minute after the referee spotted a handball by Saul Niguez inside the box. Unal stepped up and blasted in the resulting penalty. Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings on 35 points, four...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Wolverhampton

Twelve minutes of misery as Liverpool misfire again

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool looks dejected alongside assistant Peter Krawietz during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on February 4, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. As Wolverhampton Wanderers closed out the final few minutes of Saturday’s hugely impressive dismantling of Liverpool, their fans responded to a lengthy spell of passing with chants of “ole”. In recent seasons, that is something Reds fans were often able to inflict on their opponents – but those days feel like a long time ago as a season of disappointment continues. If a 3-0 loss at Brighton last month felt like a significant low, then this 3-0 defeat at Molineux was arguably worse. After all, the Seagulls are chasing a top-seven finish while Wolves started S...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

ARSENAL FC, EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Sean Dyche

Everton stun Arsenal in Dyche’s first game as boss

James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on February 04, 2023 in Liverpool, England.New manager Sean Dyche enjoyed a dream start as a much-improved Everton side stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal at a raucous Goodison Park. Dyche was appointed last Monday following the departure of Frank Lampard, who was sacked with the team in the relegation zone. And the hosts picked up their first victory in 11 games in all competitions courtesy of a link-up between two men who played for Dyche at Burnley. Centre-half James Tarkowski rose at the far post to power home a header from Dwight McNeil’s corner to spark the sort of joyous scenes that have been witnessed rarely at Goodison thi...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Athletic Bilbao, Cadiz FC, LALIGA, Ohian Sancet

Athletic Club seal first La Liga win of 2023 against Cadiz

Oihan Sancet of Athletic Club compete for the ball with Gonzalo Escalante of Cadiz CF during the La Liga Santander match between Athletic Club and Cadiz CF at San Mames on February 3, 2023, in Bilbao, Spain.Athletic Club picked up their first La Liga win of 2023, thanks to a hat trick from Ohian Sancet, in routine 4-1 victory over Cadiz. The Basque giants have struggled for positivity either side of the World Cup break, with their last three points in league action coming on November 8. Progress to the Copa del Rey semi finals has not been matched on the league front but they cruised to victory in Bilbao. The home side got the ball rolling early on, via Sancet’s powerful deflected opener, before Gonzalo Escalante quickly produced a close range equaliser. However, the parity was broken befo...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Enzo Fernandez, PREMIER LEAGUE

Fernandez makes debut as Chelsea held by Fulham

Thiago Silva and Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea embrace after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in London, England.British record signing Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut but could not help his new side claim only their second win of 2023 as they were held by Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Argentina midfielder Fernandez completed a £107m move to the Blues from Benfica three days ago and Graham Potter opted to hand him an immediate start. He made a solid impression and almost enjoyed a dream debut when his curled effort flew just wide of the post in the second half. Kai Havertz also went close before the break when his lobbed effort from Hakim Ziyech’s superb pass clipped the woodwork before the ball was cleared off the line, while...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Karim Benzema, LALIGA, Real Madrid

Karim Benzema joins growing injury list for Real Madrid

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid disappointed during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain.In last night’s fixture against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu, two quick assists from Karim Benzema for Marco Asensio (52′) and Vinicius Junior (54′) were enough to beat the visitors as Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga. Just six minutes after the second goal, however, an injured Benzema begrudgingly left the field with a thigh problem. He now joins David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Lucas Vazquez on Real Madrid’s injury list. A scoreless draw against high flyers Real Sociedad on Sunday meant that the current La Liga champions had dropped two valuable points in the league. After Robert Lewan...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

ARSENAL FC, Mikel Arteta, PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta named Premier League Manager of the Month for January

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta receives the Premier League January Manager Of The Month award at London Colney on February 03, 2023 in St Albans, England.Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has been named the Premier League Manager of the Month for January. The 40-year-old led his side to two victories and a draw from meetings with Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to maintain their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. The Gunners were held to a goalless stalemate with Newcastle in their opening fixture of 2023, prior to back-to-back wins over fellow top-four hopefuls Tottenham and Man United later in January. Hugo Lloris’s own goal and Martin Odegaard’s strike saw Arsenal ease to a 2-0 win over Spurs in the North London derby, before Man United were on the wrong end...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche: Not everyone wanted me at Everton

New Everton Manager Sean Dyche (R) and Steve Stone (L) watch Alex Iwobi Neal Maupay and Ruben Vinagre during the Everton training session at Finch Farm on January 30, 2023 in Halewood, England. New Everton manager Sean Dyche admits he probably would not have got the job had the club not been facing a second successive relegation battle. The former Burnley boss takes over with Everton off the bottom of the Premier League only on goal difference after nine defeats in their last 12 matches, and his first game is against leaders Arsenal on Saturday. He was not owner Farhad Moshiri’s first choice with the billionaire owner wanting ex-Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa to replace the sacked Frank Lampard, only for negotiations to break down over the Argentinian’s terms. Dyche, fired last April af...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA, Marco Asensio, Real Madrid

Real Madrid beat Valencia to close gap to Barcelona

Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates 1-0 with Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Real Madrid beat 10-man Valencia to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points. Los Blancos took the lead through a stunning left-footed strike from Marco Asensio in the 52nd minute. Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th Real appearance with his side’s second goal two minutes later. Gabriel Paulista was shown a straight red card for the visitors in the 72nd minute for kicking out at Vinicius. Antonio Rudiger thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts in firs...

2Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Anthony Martial, EFL, Manchester United, NEWS

Man Utd to play Newcastle in EFL Cup final

Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the Carabao Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on February 1, 2023 in Manchester, England.Manchester United eased through their EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Nottingham Forest to book a 1999 Wembley rematch with Newcastle. Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Fred ensured victory on the night for Erik ten Hag’s side, even though a place in the final was virtually secure anyway thanks to their 3-0 first-leg triumph at the City Ground. Martial marked his return from a four-match injury absence by driving home his sixth goal of the season, after a pass intended for Marcus Rashford deflected back to the French striker 17 minutes from ti...

1Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Julian Araujo, LALIGA, TRANSFERS

Julian Araujo signing still pending further verification

Julian Araujo #2 of Los Angeles Galaxy celebrates his game winning goal during the MLS Cup Round of 16 match against Nashville SC at the Dignity Health Sports Park on October 15, 2022 in Carson, California.Mexican International and LA Galaxy right-back Julian Araujo was a major objective for FC Barcelona on deadline day. According to numerous trusted reports, the deal for his arrival at Barcelona was completed between the Catalan giants and the MLS club where he currently plays. As per trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, “There is a complete agreement between the clubs on a €4m fee. He’d sign until June 2026”, showcasing that on the end of club negotiations and even player negotiations, the deal bears no obstacles. However, as per similar trusted reports, the actual obstacle in te...

1Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Paul Onuachu, Southampton FC, TRANSFERS

Southampton agree Paul Onuachu deal

Genk's Paul Onuachu celebrates after scoring a goal during the Belgian Pro League football match between KRC Genk and RFC Seraing on January 29, 2023 in Genk.Southampton’s search to bring in a new striker is set to see them land Paul Onuachu. The Saints have been targeting new forwards in order to finally replace the gaping hole left by Danny Ings’ departure in 2021. According to 90min, Southampton were hopeful of signing Braga striker Vitinha, only for Marseille to swoop in and snatch him from under their noses on deadline day. But the south coast club have acted quickly in order to bring in another body up front, agreeing to a €20m deal with Genk to sign Onuachu. Onuachu had his medical with Southampton and then sign a three-and-a-half-year deal with his new club. The Nigeria internation...

1Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, PSG

Messi says World Cup trophy ‘called out’ to him

Lionel Messi of Argentina holds the World Cup trophy during a ceremony after the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final Match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar on December 18, 2022Lionel Messi won the World Cup because the sparkling solid gold trophy picked him to lift it, the Argentine star said in a radio interview aired on Monday. The 35-year-old inspired his country to World Cup glory last month by scoring two goals and a penalty in the South Americans’ shoot-out triumph over previous holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. “The cup called out to me, it told me: come and grab me, now you can touch me,” Messi told the Argentine Urbana Play radio station in his first interview since lifting the trophy in December. “I saw it sparkling in that beautifu...