March 2023 – Page 6 – Football Flame
Latest Football News

Month: March 2023

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AC Milan, Nicolas Gonzalez, SERIE A

Fiorentina deny Milan second spot in Serie A

Nicolas Gonzalez of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and AC MIlan at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 4, 2023 in Florence, Italy.Milan missed the chance to go second in Serie A on Saturday after falling to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina, ending a recent upturn Qin form for the reigning champions.Nicolas Gonzalez’s penalty three minutes after the break and a late Luka Jovic header earned Fiorentina the three points and ended Milan’s four-match winning streak ahead of their Champions League showdown at Tottenham on Wednesday. Theo Hernandez netted in stoppage time for Milan who are fourth, level on 47 points with local rivals Inter ahead of their match with Lecce on Sunday. Stefano Pioli’s side, without suspended star attacke...
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BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, Xavi Hernandez

Barca the hardest club in the world to manage: Xavi

 Xavi Hernandez head coach of Barcelona gives instructions during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 2, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. La Liga leaders Barcelona are the hardest club in the world to manage due to their critics always being ready to snipe at them even after big wins, coach Xavi Hernandez said Saturday. Barcelona beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday at the Santiago Bernabeu, but were criticised for only having 34 percent possession. Xavi said the demands on his team to play good football as well as winning games and lifting trophies meant his job was trickier than any other in the game. “You beat Real Madrid 1-0 and it seems that it’s not convincing enoug...
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Atletico Madrid, LALIGA, Memphis Depay, Sevilla

Depay brace sparks Atletico’s 6-1 rout of Sevilla

 Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates 3-1 with Stefan Savic of Atletico Madrid, Axel Witsel of Atletico Madrid, Yannick Carrasco of Atletico Madrid, Memphis Depay of Atletico Madrid, Thomas Lemar of Atletico Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Sevilla at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on March 4, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Memphis Depay has scored twice in his first start for Atletico Madrid and sparked a 6-1 thrashing of Sevilla as Diego Simeone coached a club-record 613th game. Atletico’s biggest win of the season lifted them above Real Sociedad and into third place in the Spanish league. Simeone set a new club milestone by surpassing the previous mark of 612 games coached by Luis Aragones. Since taking over in December 2011, the Argentine has...
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Arsenal, PREMIER LEAGUE, Reiss Nelson

Nelson’s 97th-minute stunner gives Arsenal victory

 Reiss Nelson of Arsenal celebrates their third goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on March 4, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Reiss Nelson scored a stunning 97th-minute winner as Premier League leaders Arsenal came from two goals down to beat Bournemouth. Bournemouth had taken the lead after just 9.11 seconds through Philip Billing, and went 2-0 up via a Marco Senesi header. However Arsenal pulled level with goals by Thomas Partey and Ben White, before Nelson struck. The winger, making his first appearance since 12 November, slammed in from 25 yards in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Arsenal’s Premier League lead is restored to five points, after they had seemed certain to cede ground to Manchester C...
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CHELSEA FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Welsey Fofana

Chelsea beat Leeds to ease pressure on Potter

 Wesley Fofana of Chelsea celebrates his goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on March 4, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Welsey Fofana scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea as the Blues beat Leeds to ease the pressure on manager Graham Potter. After a run of just one win in their past 15 games, there was a sense that three points were a must for Potter, despite insisting he retained the support of the club’s owners before the game. The Blues made a blistering start and could have been 3-0 up inside 30 minutes. Kai Havertz was one-on-one with Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, while Joao Felix smashed a shot from distance against the crossbar before Ben Chilwell prodded wide from an excellent position. After tha...
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Manchester City, Newcastle United, Phil Foden

Foden stars as Man City see off Newcastle

 Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their 1st goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on March 4, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Phil Foden’s superb solo goal helped Manchester City see off Newcastle and ensured the defending champions kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal. Foden struck after 15 minutes, gliding in from the right and holding off two challenges before seeing his shot deflected home off Sven Botman. Newcastle responded well and were causing plenty of problems until City substitute Bernardo Silva slotted home to put the game out of their reach midway through the second half. The win means City move to within two points of the Gunners, who play Bournemouth later on Saturda...
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Borussia Dortmund, BUNDESLIGA, Marco Reus

Borussia Dortmund beat Leipzig 2-1 to retake Bundesliga lead

 Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund celebrates his side's first goal with his teammates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig at Signal Iduna Park on March 3, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. Captain Marco Reus scored again in a 2-1 win over Leipzig that lifted Borussia Dortmund three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga on Friday and preserved its winning start to 2023. Reus converted a penalty in the 21st minute and Emre Can got the second goal in the 39th for Dortmund’s 10th win from 10 games across all competitions this year. It’s the best record for any team across Europe’s top five leagues in 2023. Bayern Munich, which was leading on goal difference from Dortmund, can reclaim top spot on Saturday with a win at relegation-threatened Stuttgart. Reus...
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Lazio, Matias Vecino, Napoli, SERIE A

Serie A leaders Napoli beaten at home by Lazio

 Matias Vecino of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 03, 2023 in Naples, Italy.  Serie A leaders Napoli suffered only their second league defeat of the season as they lost at home to Lazio, who moved up to second in the table. Matias Vecino scored the only goal in the 67th minute with an excellent strike from outside the penalty area. Serie A top goalscorer Victor Osimhen, with 19 goals in the league, came closest to an equaliser but saw his header bounce off the crossbar. Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic also hit the woodwork with a free-kick. Vecino’s goal was the first goal Napoli had conceded in six games. Napoli are aiming to become Italian champions for the third time with thei...
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Fulham FC, Manor Solomon, Marco Silva, NEWS

Silva will fight to keep hold of Solomon

 Manor Solomon of Fulham looks on during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on February 28, 2023 in London, England.Fulham boss Marco Silva says he is ready to fight to keep in-form winger Manor Solomon at Craven Cottage this summer. The Israeli international capped a dream return from a dreadful knee injury by curling in an excellent effort against Leeds in the FA Cup on Tuesday night – his fourth such strike in as many games – sparking speculation that other sides could seek to exploit the uncertainty around the FIFA regulations that govern the 23 year-old’s registration to sign him at the end of the season. But Silva, who has been credited by Solomon as one of the principle why the precocious talent chose to join the Whites in th...
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Achraf Hakimi, Morocco, NEWS, PSG

Morocco’s Hakimi charged with rape

 Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi (L) arrives with teammates for a training session at club's training ground in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on March 3, 2023, on the eve of the L1 football match against Nantes.Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi was charged with rape on Friday, French prosecutors said. Hakimi, 24, was questioned by prosecutors on Thursday about accusations made by a 24-year-old woman, and subsequently charged. The Madrid-born player, who was a key part of Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar last year, trained with his PSG teammates on Friday morning. A PSG spokesman said the club “gives its support” to Hakimi and “places its trust in the justice system”. Hakimi allegedly paid for his accu...
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ARSENAL FC, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta, PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta fires warning to Jesus ahead of Arsenal injury return

 Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the team's second goal with Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (L) and Arsenal's Italian midfielder Jorginho during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 1, 2023. Mikel Arteta has warned Gabriel Jesus that he simply cannot walk back into the Arsenal team. The Brazilian forward has been ruled out of action since returning from the World Cup with a knee injury. In December, the former Manchester City star underwent surgery, sparking fears Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge would collapse. That, of course, has not been the case and the Gunners have opened up a five-point lead over City heading into the final 13 games. While Eddie Nk...
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Ligue 1, NEWS, PSG, Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos is keen on PSG extension

 Sergio Ramos looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session on March 01, 2023 in Paris, France. Sergio Ramos, PSG centre-back and one of the most decorated defenders in history, may have reached the end of the road when it comes to his national team duties. However, his passion for football burns bright, as he reportedly seeks to continue his journey with the French capital club, according to L’Équipe. Currently, negotiations between Ramos and the club are on hold, but there are positive indications of a good working relationship between the two sides, and they have agreed not to rush any decisions. At nearly 37 years old, the defender’s poor performances in the first half of the season was overlooked, with hopes that he would flip the Champions League switch. ...
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BARCELONA FC, Eder Militao, Real Madrid

Barcelona stuns Real Madrid with surprise goal in Copa del Rey semi-final first leg

 (L-R) Ansu Fati of FC Barcelona, Eder Militao of Real Madrid during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Eder Militao’s own goal handed a depleted Barcelona a surprise 1-0 away victory over Real Madrid in a stormy Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday. The Catalans arrived on the back of two consecutive defeats and without an injured trio of key players – top scorer Robert Lewandowski, key midfielder Pedri and explosive winger Ousmane Dembele. After their Europa League elimination by Manchester United last week and a first ever loss against La Liga minnows Almeria, Madrid fans smelled blood, but left bitterly frustrated. Militao deflected a rebound into his own goal after 26 minutes...
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FA Cup, Iliman Ndiaye, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham shocked by Sheffield United in FA Cup

 Sheffield United's Iliman Ndiaye (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mates during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: Wednesday March 1, 2023.  Iliman Ndiaye scored a superb late winner as Championship side Sheffield United stunned Tottenham to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. As the game looked to be heading to extra time, substitute Ndiaye weaved past a couple of defenders before beating Fraser Forster with a low strike at the near post. Tottenham, who beat Chelsea at the weekend to boost their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League, looked off the pace as they struggled to test Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham. Richarlison blasted a shot over the bar from close range but f...
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Alejandro Garnacho, FA Cup, Manchester United

Man Utd survive scare to reach FA Cup last eight

 Manchester United's Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Garnacho (L) celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Manchester United and West Ham at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 1, 2023.Carabao Cup winners Manchester United came from a goal down to beat West Ham and move into the FA Cup quarter-finals in a frantic finish at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho curled in a last-minute strike past Alphonse Areola before Fred steered in an injury-time third goal to put the hosts into the last eight and see off the battling Hammers. West Ham scored first early in the second half through Said Benrahma’s powerfully-struck shot which flew into the top corner past David de Gea. The home players had thought the ...
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ARSENAL FC, Bukayo Saka, PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal rout Everton to go five points clear at top

 Bukayo Saka scores Arsenal's 1st goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2023 in London, England.Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points as they thrashed struggling Everton at Emirates Stadium. Sean Dyche’s side, who remain in the relegation places, frustrated Arsenal until five minutes before half-time, when Oleksandr Zinchenko’s pass played in Bukayo Saka for a thumping finish. The contest was effectively over in first-half stoppage time when Saka robbed the dawdling Idrissa Gueye to play in Gabriel Martinelli. The flag went up for offside after he drove past Jordan Pickford but the decision was overturned after a VAR check. Everton had no answers and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard ...
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FA Cup, Gavan Holohan, Grimsby, Southampton FC

Grimsby stun Southampton to reach FA Cup last eight

 Gavan Holohan of Grimsby Town celebrates with team-mates after he scores a goal to make it 1-0 from the spot during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Southampton and Grimsby Town at St Mary's Stadium on March 01, 2023 in Southampton, England.League Two Grimsby Town reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 84 years as two penalties either side of half-time stunned Premier League strugglers Southampton. Gavan Holohan put the visitors ahead shortly before the interval after referee Thomas Bramall ruled Lyanco had blocked Josh Emmanuel’s cross with his arm. Southampton defender Duje Caleta-Car then caught Danilo Orsi with a flailing hand not long after the restart, allowing Holohan to convert his second spot-kick of the game. Caleta-Car’s close-range finish gave Saints ...
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FA Cup, Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester city, NEWS

Kelechi Iheanacho frustrated by Leicester’s missed FA Cup opportunity

 Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round between Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers at The King Power Stadium on February 28, 2023 in Leicester, England.Kelechi Iheanacho admits Leicester blew their FA Cup chance after a last-16 defeat to Blackburn. Tyrhys Dolan and Sammie Szmodics scored to book Rovers a quarter-final spot for the first time in eight years with a 2-1 win on Tuesday. Iheanacho grabbed a second-half consolation – meaning he has 18 goals in 24 FA Cup appearances – but knows the Foxes missed their chance. “It’s so disappointing, especially at home,” he said. “It wasn’t good enough. If you don’t do what you need to do, you get punished. Obviously, that’s gone now, we need to look forward to the Premier League, but we need to do more. “(...
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LALIGA, Real Madrid, Xavi Hernandez

Xavi: Madrid are favourites to win Copa Clasico

 Xavi Hernandez, head coach of FC Barcelona gestures during the LaLiga Santander match between UD Almeria and FC Barcelona at Juegos Mediterraneos on February 26, 2023 in Almeria, Spain.Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has said Real Madrid are the favourites going into Thursday’s Copa del Rey clash at the Bernabeu. There will be three Clasicos within one month, with the first kicking off on Thursday when Madrid host Barca in the first leg of the semifinal, with the second leg to come at Camp Nou at the start of April after the teams meet in LaLiga on March 19. Madrid won when the two teams met in the league earlier this season, but Barca were victorious in the Spanish Super Cup final between the two sides last month in Saudi Arabia. Barca have since lost Robert Lewandowski, Pedri a...
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FRANCE, Just Fontaine, NEWS

Just Fontaine, France’s record World Cup goalscorer, dies aged 89

  Ex-France international footballer Just Fontaine (C) receives the Adidas Platinum Boot award from ex-Brazil international footballer Ronaldo (L) and UEFA President Michel Platini during the Opening Ceremony of the 64th FIFA Congress at the Transamerica Expo Center on June 10, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.French football legend Just Fontaine, who in 1958 scored a record 13 goals in a single edition of the World Cup, has died aged 89. The prolific striker scored 30 goals in 21 internationals for France between 1953 and 1960. But Fontaine will always be remembered for the mark he set in Sweden, when he was instrumental in Les Bleus reaching the semi-finals. In his club career, Fontaine’s strike rate was as impressive. He scored 259 goals from 283 matches and was one of the key player...
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