March 2023 – Page 3 – Football Flame
Latest Football News

Month: March 2023

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Brentford, Leicester city, PREMIER LEAGUE

Leicester end losing run with draw at Brentford

 Harvey Barnes of Leicester City takes on Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Leicester City at Gtech Community Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Brentford, England.Leicester City gained a crucial point and ended their five-match losing run as Harvey Barnes netted a second-half equaliser at high-flying Brentford in the Premier League. Barnes was sent through on goal by James Maddison shortly after half-time, dinking the ball over Brentford keeper David Raya. Earlier, Mathias Jensen’s deflected shot had put Brentford ahead in the 32nd minute at the Gtech Community Stadium. In the closing stages, Brentford substitute Shandon Baptiste was sent off for a second bookable offence, catching Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. A point for Leicester saw them stay 1...
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Leeds United, PREMIER LEAGUE, Wolverhampton

Leeds out of bottom three with victory at Wolves

 Jonny of Wolverhampton Wanderers challenges Luke Ayling of Leeds United which resulted in him receiving a red card during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on March 18, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.Leeds climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone after holding off a late Wolves fightback to win an enthralling game at Molineux. The victory lifts Javi Gracia’s side – who started the day in 19th – four places and two points above the bottom three. Jack Harrison, who scored in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Brighton, side-footed Wilfried Gnonto’s cut-back past Jose Sa to give the visitors an early lead after a bright start. Leeds doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half as Luke Ayling, left completel...
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PREMIER LEAGUE, Southampton FC, Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton comeback earns late point against Spurs

 James Ward-Prowse of Southampton scores the team's third goal from a penalty kick during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Southampton, England.A late James Ward-Prowse penalty earned Southampton a deserved point in a thrilling encounter as they came from behind against Tottenham at St Mary’s. A fragmented first half never really got going as both sides were forced into two substitutions apiece with Richarlison and Ben Davies coming off injured for Spurs and Saints’ Armel Bella-Kotchap and Jan Bednarek also replaced. Pedro Porro broke the deadlock, hammering a shot into the roof of the net just before half time. Che Adams levelled 47 seconds into the second half, but Saints were staring a...
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Darwin Nunez, NEWS, Uruguay

Nunez pulls out of Uruguay squad with injury

 Darwin Nunez of Liverpool FC runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has pulled out of the Uruguay squad for their upcoming friendlies because of injury. The 23-year-old forward was named in the squad for Uruguay’s matches against Japan and South Korea on 24 and 28 March respectively. Nunez will instead receive treatment at the Premier League club’s training centre. Liverpool did not specify what the injury was in their statement but reports suggest it is an ankle issue. It is thought he sustained the injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Liverpool lost 6-2 on aggregate in the last 16. Club ...
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Atalanta, Rasmus Winther Hojlund, SERIE A

Atalanta beat Empoli to boost Champions League hopes

 Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates with teammates Matteo Ruggeri (L) and Jose Luis Palomino (R) after scoring the team's second goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Empoli FC at Gewiss Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.Substitute Rasmus Winther Hojlund scored late to help Atalanta fight back to beat Empoli 2-1 in Serie A and boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.Winther Hojlund scored the winner just seven minutes after coming off the bench. Marten de Roon had cancelled out Tyronne Ebuehi’s opener for Empoli.The victory snapped Atalanta’s winless run and lifted them to within three points of fourth-placed AC Milan, who visit Udinese on Saturday.Empoli remained nine points above the relegation zone.Atalanta had lost three of their ...
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Borussia Monchengladbach, BUNDESLIGA, Werder Bremen

Ducksch double salvages draw for Bremen at Gladbach

 Marvin Ducksch of SV Werder Bremen runs with the ball past Ko Itakura of Borussia Moenchengladbach on the way to scoring the team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and SV Werder Bremen at Borussia-Park on March 17, 2023 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. Two goals from Marvin Ducksch has salvaged a draw for Werder Bremen against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga and punished Gladbach for wasteful shooting. Gladbach were looking for a landmark 500th home win in Bundesliga history and on course after goals by Marcus Thuram and Florian Neuhaus. But Ducksch twice levelled the score for an otherwise unthreatening Bremen team and could have won the game in stoppage time. Gladbach dominated the first half but failed to score off a series of c...
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Athletic Bilbao, Inigo Martinez, LALIGA

Bilbao victory at Valladolid ends winless La Liga run

Inigo Martinez of Athletic Club passes the ball whilst under pressure from Oscar Plano of Real Valladolid CF during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Valladolid CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on March 17, 2023 in Valladolid, Spain.Inigo Martinez scored from a free kick to help Athletic Bilbao win at Valladolid 3-1 in the Spanish league on the same day the veteran defender was called back to Spain’s national team. Martinez fired his free kick past the barrier for the opener on the half-hour mark. He was included in the first squad of new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente announced hours before the league game. The centre back played for Spain until June before former national coach Luis Enrique dropped him ahead of the World Cup. Gorka Guruzeta added a second goal...
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LALIGA, Real Madrid, Xavi Hernandez

Clasico win to guarantee Barca title

 Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at San Mames Stadium on March 12, 2023 in Bilbao, Spain.Xavi Hernandez and his Barcelona side can take a decisive step towards winning La Liga on Sunday – where a Clasico victory over Real Madrid would send them 12 points clear of the champions. The Catalans have not won the Spanish title since Ernesto Valverde was at the helm in 2019 and expanding the gap on their bitter rivals in second would virtually clinch it. Madrid won the first La Liga Clasico 3-1 in October but Xavi’s side have vastly improved since then. The coach is desperate to win the league title to validate the team’s growth, while for the club it would represent a swift return on their outlay last summe...
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Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, PREMIER LEAGUE

Newcastle’s Isak scores late winner at Forest

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his winning goal by penalty (1-2) during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United at City Ground on March 17, 2023 in Nottingham, United Kingdom.In an eventful encounter, Newcastle substitute Elliot Anderson thought he had made it 2-1 when he thumped in a header at the back post, only for it to be ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up. Newcastle were on top for large spells and hit the crossbar twice in the first half, either side of a glorious chance fired over by Joe Willock from close range. Forest’s opener came against the run of play when Newcastle defender Sven Botman unforgivably gifted possession to Dennis, who smartly chipped it over the players standing guard on the goalline. The vis...
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Champions League, Chelsea, NEWS

Champions League draw produces top-heavy quarter-final line-up

 Presenter Pedro Pinto speaks during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Quarter-finals and Semi-finals Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on March 17, 2023, in Nyon, Switzerland.Chelsea will play holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the winners facing either Manchester City or Bayern Munich following a top-heavy draw that produced two blockbuster ties. On the other side of the draw Napoli will face AC Milan in an all-Italian clash while Inter Milan will play Benfica, with one of those sides guaranteed to reach the Champions League final. Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in last season’s quarter-finals on their way to lifting the Champions League for the 14th time and Friday’s draw produced a repeat of that tie. Manchester Cit...
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Crystal Palace, PREMIER LEAGUE, Roy Hodgson

Crystal Palace ready to consider Roy Hodgson reunion

 Roy Hodgson applauds the fans after reaching a Forever Fulham Award during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on January 23, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Crystal Palace are reportedly open to a reunion with former manager Roy Hodgson. On Friday morning, Palace announced that they had taken the decision to sack Patrick Vieira after failing to win a single game since the turn of the year. While the Eagles still occupy 12th position in the Premier League standings, they sit just three points above the relegation zone and five ahead of bottom spot. Although Paddy McCarthy, the club’s Under-21 boss, has been placed in temporary charge for Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Arsenal, Palace will now assess their options. Ralph Hasenhuttl and...
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Patrick Vieira, PREMIER LEAGUE

Palace need to change mindset, says Vieira as Brighton boost Euro hopes

 Albert Sambi Lokonga shakes hands with Patrick Vieira, Manager of Crystal Palace, after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at American Express Community Stadium on March 15, 2023 in Brighton, England. Patrick Vieira says his Crystal Palace side need to change their “mindset” to end their 11-game winless run that has dragged them towards a relegation battle. Palace have managed just four goals since the turn of the year and only fellow strugglers Everton, Wolves and Southampton have scored less than the Eagles’ 21 goals this term. A third consecutive 1-0 defeat, on Wednesday against a Brighton side chasing European football, followed a frustratingly familiar pattern for Vieira with his side spurning three good chances to take control of...
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Champions League, NEWS, Victor Osimhen

Osimhen double helps Napoli see off Frankfurt

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy.Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a comfortable win over Eintracht Frankfurt. With Luciano Spalletti’s side two goals up from the first leg, the Nigeria striker’s thumping header in first-half stoppage time dispelled any lingering nerves at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Osimhen doubled the Italians’ lead on the night with a close-range finish from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross eight minutes after the break and, having been brought down in the box, Piotr Zielinski ...
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Champions League, Karim Benzema, NEWS

Real Madrid dump Liverpool out of Champions League

 Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Liverpool’s Champions League hopes ended at the hands of Real Madrid for a third consecutive season as they failed to overcome their first-leg Anfield demolition. The Reds, who lost the first leg 5-2, lined up with four forwards at the Bernabeu as they looked to add another famous comeback to their fabled European history. But that rarely looked on the cards and legendary Real striker Karim Benzema put the tie beyond doubt when he tucked in from Vinicius Jr’s cutback late on. Jurgen Klopp’s side would have lost this game by more if not for Alisson. The Reds goalkeeper denied Vin...
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NEWS, Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 41, called up to Sweden squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan in action during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in San Siro in Milano, Italy, on February 26 2023.AC Milan’s veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named on Thursday in Sweden’s squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, when he could break Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff’s age record. Ibrahimovic, 41, last featured for his country 12 months ago and will beat Zoff’s Euro qualifier milestone of 40 years and 90 days set in 1983 if he features in games against Belgium on 24 March or Azerbaijan on 27 March. He has played just three games for Milan this season after recovering from a knee issue. “Zlatan has made three slightly longer substitutions now in Milan and feels fit and in decent shape even thoug...
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Champions League, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool FC

Liverpool will try to beat Madrid with one per cent chance – Klopp

 Liverpool FC Head Coach Jurgen Klopp talks during the Press Conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 14, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.  Jurgen Klopp said Tuesday his Liverpool team might only have a one per cent chance of beating Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, but they will try to use it. The coach had admitted, after his team’s 5-2 first leg defeat by the European champions at Anfield in February, that his side’s hopes of progress were extinguished. However Klopp said he had changed his mind a little, and even if nobody else believed in his side, they were looking forward to the clash in the Spanish capital, a repeat of last season’s final. “I said three weeks ago, Madrid with...
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Champions League, Edin Dzeko, Inter Milan, Porto

Inter reaches Champions League quarters after 0-0 draw at Porto

 Edin Dzeko of Internazionale runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between FC Porto and FC Internazionale at Estadio do Dragao on March 14, 2023 in Porto, Portugal.Heroic defending and the woodwork helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in more than a decade. Inter managed a 0-0 draw at Porto on Tuesday to progress 1-0 on aggregate and join city rival AC Milan in the final eight. Napoli could become the third Italian team in the quarterfinals when it plays Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. All the drama was saved for the fifth minute of stoppage time as a goalline clearance, the post and the crossbar prevented Porto from snatching the goal that would have taken the match to extra time. “In soccer, luck ma...
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Erling Haaland, Manchester City, UCL

Haaland breaks City single-season record

 Erling Haaland of Manchester City talks with Pep Guardiloa after being substituted in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on March 14, 2023 in Manchester, England. Erling Haaland broke Manchester City’s single-season scoring record with his fifth goal of the game in their Champions League round-of-16 second leg win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday. Haaland, 22, now has 39 goals in all competitions for City this season, surpassing the mark of 38 set by Tommy Johnson during the 1928-29 season. The Norway international became the fastest player to reach 30 goals in the competition – he ended the night on 33 from 25 UCL goals – when putting the English champions 2-0 up in the first half. “I’m blurry in my head. I remember...
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FIFA, World Cup

FIFA enlarges 2026 World Cup to 48 teams with 104 matches to be played

 FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Norwich City at The Den on March 4, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.FIFA on Tuesday confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be played with 48 teams divided into 12 groups, and will have 104 matches up from 64. “… the FIFA Council unanimously approved the proposed amendment to the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition format from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four with the top two and eight best third-placed teams progressing to a round of 32. “The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams,” FIFA said in a statement. The FIFA Council on Tuesday met before the 73rd ...
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Aaron Ramsey, NEWS, Wales

Ramsey named new Wales captain

Aaron Ramsey of Wales on the pitch during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.Aaron Ramsey will replace Gareth Bale as Wales captain with Ben Davies becoming vice-captain.Wales men’s record scorer and top appearance-maker Bale announced his retirement from football in January. Wales boss Rob Page has selected four uncapped players in his squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia. Jordan James, Nathan Broadhead and Ollie Cooper could win first caps, as could 17-year-old forward Luke Harris. Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw’s fine form sees him called up for the first time in five years. Nice midfielder Ramsey, now the most-capped outfield player in the squad, is fit and a...
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