May 2023 – Page 6 – Football Flame

Month: May 2023

No Comments
Dean Smith, Leicester city, PREMIER LEAGUE

Smith hopes in-form Vardy can help Leicester beat the drop

 Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring the 2nd goal with Youri Tielemans during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on May 1, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.Leicester manager Dean Smith says his team have had to play more to Jamie Vardy’s strengths as they battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. The veteran forward has scored in each of the past two games, draws against Leeds and Everton, to help the club edge out of the relegation zone after Vardy went 19 matches without a goal. Smith, who replaced Brendan Rodgers last month with a brief to keep 2016 champions Leicester up, said Vardy was “firing” ahead of Monday’s trip to mid-table Fulham. “People will have seen in his last few performances the hunger and...
Read More
No Comments
Antoine Griezmann, LALIGA

Atletico rout Cadiz, go second in La Liga above Madrid

 Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Koke (R) and Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward Alvaro Morata during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Cadiz CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on May 3, 2023. Atletico Madrid have continued their winning form by routing Cadiz 5-1 and overtaking Real Madrid for second place in Spain’s La Liga. Antoine Griezmann scored twice in the first half on Wednesday and Alvaro Morata, Yannick Carrasco and Nahuel Molina each added a goal in the second to give Atletico their 12th win in 14 league matches. Diego Simeone’s team moved a point in front of their city rivals with five rounds remaining. It is the first ti...
Read More
No Comments
Uncategorized

Liverpool beat Fulham to keep top-four hopes alive

 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah kisses the ball before taking his penalty kick during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield on May 3, 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are not realistic despite a fifth straight win, says boss Jurgen Klopp. The in-form Reds, who only have four matches left, moved four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United after Mohamed Salah’s penalty sunk Fulham at Anfield. However, United have two games in hand on fifth-placed Liverpool – including one at eighth-placed Brighton on Thursday – kick-off 20:00 BST. Only leaders Manchester City have taken more points from the last six matches than Liverpool, but Klopp played down his side’s chances of sneaking in...
Read More
No Comments
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City regain top spot as Haaland makes history

 Erling Haaland with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish of Manchester City celebrate 3rd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 03, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Erling Haaland broke the Premier League record for goals in a season as Manchester City returned to the top of the table by beating West Ham. Haaland’s sublime chip over Lukasz Fabianski 20 minutes from time took him on to 35, one clear of Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, whose 34-goal tallies had come in a 42-match campaign. The Norwegian is now on 51 in all competitions, 12 behind Dixie Dean’s all-time English record, with a potential nine games still to play. Haaland’s latest effort helped City to a ninth successive league win – and they now lead Arsenal by a poi...
Read More
No Comments
Ligue 1, Lionel Messi

Messi to leave PSG at end of season

 Lionel Messi during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on April 02, 2023 in Paris, France.Lionel Messi will leave Paris St-Germain this summer at the end of his current contract. The Argentine World Cup winner had reached an ‘agreement in principle’ to extend his stay for another year but neither club nor player now want to sign the deal. Messi is unconvinced the club can compete at the top of the European game, due to financial issues, while the French champions want to focus on developing young talent. He signed a two-year deal in Paris in 2021 with an option to renew for another year but that will now not be activated. It is understood his father Jorge Messi informed Paris St-Germain’s footbal...
Read More
No Comments
Cristiano Ronaldo, NEWS

Ronaldo becomes highest-paid athlete after Saudi move

 Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts to a missed chance during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Fayha and Al-Nassr at the al-Majmaah stadium in the city of al-Majmaah on April 9, 2023.Cristiano Ronaldo became the world’s highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr nearly doubled his annual playing salary while Paris St Germain (PSG) duo Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe round off the top three, according to Forbes. Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi soccer club on a deal until 2025 after leaving Manchester United last year, earned $136 million with Forbes saying his annual playing salary went up to an estimated $75 million. PSG forward Messi, 35, was next on the list after bringing home a combined $130 million while club teammate and France...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Julen Lopetegui: Chiquinho unlikely to play this season for Wolves

 Chiquinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers continues his rehabilitation from injury during a Wolverhampton Wanderers Training Session at The Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground on October 04, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England.Julen Lopetegui admits it is unlikely Chiquinho will play for Wolves in the remaining weeks of the season. The 23-year-old winger suffered an anterior cruciate ligament to his knee in a pre-season fixture against Burnley back in July and needed surgery. Chiquinho, who signed in January 2022 for around £3million, impressed in the second half of last season before his eventual injury. He has now returned to team training, but with just four games remaining this season, Lopetegui now admits the winger is still a long way off being ready to play and is unlikely to feature. “He’...
Read More
No Comments
Jordi Alba, LALIGA

Alba hits winner as Barcelona edge closer to title

 Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish La liga football match between FC Barcelona vs CA Osasuna at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 2, 2023. Leaders Barcelona could wrap up the La Liga title in their next game – at neighbours Espanyol – after substitute Jordi Alba struck an 85th-minute winner against 10-man Osasuna at the Nou Camp. The mid-table visitors had Jorge Herrando sent off less than half an hour into his debut for a professional foul on Pedri – the seventh red card for the club in La Liga this season. But Osasuna stayed organised and frustrated their opponents until Alba’s winner with the outside of his foot. The victory moved Xavi’s side 14 points clear of Real Madrid with five games remaining. Carlo Ancelotti’s s...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal outclass sorry Chelsea to return to top

 Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (R) vies with Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London, on May 2, 2023.Arsenal delivered an emphatic warning that they remain serious title contenders as they outclassed abysmal Chelsea at Emirates Stadium to return to the top of the Premier League. The Gunners had gone four league games without a win and were heavily beaten last time out at reigning champions Manchester City, who replaced them at the summit with victory at Fulham on Sunday. Arsenal responded by producing a magnificent first-half display, racing into a 3-0 lead inside 34 minutes courtesy of two crisp strikes by captain Martin Odegaard and a scrambled finish by G...
Read More
No Comments
Ligue 1, Lionel Messi

Messi suspended by PSG over Saudi Arabia trip

 Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission this week. The trip followed the French club’s home defeat by Lorient on Sunday, in which Messi played the full 90 minutes. Messi will not train or play for PSG during the period of his suspension. It is understood the 35-year-old asked permission to make the journey to carry out commercial work but was refused.Messi, who has also been fined by the club, has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia. The World Cup winner’s two-year contract with PSG expires this summer. Barcelo...
Read More
No Comments
Ansu Fati, LALIGA

Fati’s agent speaks out after arriving in Barca for talks

 Ansu Fati of FC Barcelona run with the ball during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Spotify Camp Nou on April 29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. Ansu Fati’s agent, the one and only Jorge Mendes, has been in Barcelona today for talks amid speculation the club are willing to sell the youngster this summer.Speculation over the weekend claimed that Mendes has already told Barca he will bring the Catalan giants a bid of 70 million euros for Fati at the end of the season. Fati’s agent stopped to speak briefly to reporters in the city on Tuesday and had the following to say when asked about the No.10’s future. “I come to talk to the family. Ansu is a great player and has shown his worth at Barça before the injury. He is a phenomenon. And now let’s see what w...
Read More
No Comments
Javi Gracia, Leeds United, PREMIER LEAGUE

Leeds United set to sack Javi Gracia with Sam Allardyce favourite to take over

 Leeds United manager Javi Gracia (left) looks on in frustration during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Leeds United at Vitality Stadium on April 30, 2023 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom.Sam Allardyce is set to become Leeds United’s third manager of the season with the club poised to sack Javi Gracia following the 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday. Leeds are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference after five Premier League games without a win. Director of football Victor Orta will also leave his role. Gracia took over from Jesse Marsch on 21 February and oversaw a 1-0 win over Southampton in his opening match – but the Whites took just seven points from a possible 30 after that. The humiliation at Bournemouth prompted a public statement from the playe...
Read More
No Comments
Girona, LALIGA

Castellanos leads Girona to La Liga win at Sevilla

  Taty Castellanos of Girona FC celebrates a goal during the spanish league, La Liga Santander, football match played between Sevilla FC and Girona FC at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on May 1, 2023, in Sevilla, Spain. Former Major League Soccer scoring leader Taty Castellanos has struck again, and Girona followed up their win against Real Madrid with another over Sevilla in Spain’s La Liga. Juanpe Ramirez scored in the 23rd minute and Castellanos sealed the 2-0 victory in the 55th on Monday night to give Girona their second straight victory. Castellanos, playing on a one-season loan from New York City FC, scored all four goals in the 4-2 win against defending champion Madrid in the previous round. The win moved the Catalan club into eighth place, while Sevilla stayed 11th a...
Read More
No Comments
Leicester city, PREMIER LEAGUE

Leicester & Everton remain in trouble after chaotic draw

 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy defending against Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on May 1, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.Leicester City and Everton had to settle for a draw in a chaotic match which leaves both in deep trouble at the wrong end of the Premier League table. The two clubs started the game in the bottom three but a point was enough to drag Leicester out of the drop zone on goal difference, while Everton stay 19th, one point behind 17th-placed Leeds. Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring with just his second goal of the season from the penalty spot, picking himself up to convert after being bundled over by Timothy Castagne. The lead lasted just seven minutes as the hosts eq...
Read More
No Comments
TRANSFERS

Manchester United enter race to sign Leicester City star James Maddison

 Leicester City's James Maddison during the Premier League match between Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth at The King Power Stadium on April 8, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom. Manchester United have entered the race to sign England playmaker James Maddison after Leicester City decided to cash in on the midfielder. The 26-year-old will have a year to run on his contract at the end of the season and he’s intimated he will not sign a new deal with the Foxes. Dean Smith’s side are battling relegation but Maddison will be sold even if Leicester remain in the Premier League. Newcastle have shown interest in Maddison in the last two transfer windows, while Tottenham’s need for creativity has seen them register their interest. But the Telegraph say Manchester United have entered the...
Read More
No Comments
BUNDESLIGA, Serge Gnabry

Bayern back at Bundesliga summit after nervy Hertha win

 Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich and Maximilian Mittelstaedt of Hertha Berlin battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2023 in Munich, Germany.Bayern Munich have gone back top of the Bundesliga with just four matches left after second-half goals from Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman secured a nervous 2-0 home win over bottom side Hertha Berlin. Previous leaders Borussia Dortmund had opened the door by being held 1-1 at lowly Bochum on Friday, although the referee acknowledged later that the title chasers should have been awarded a penalty. Bayern, seeking an 11th straight title and now a point ahead after Joshua Kimmich expertly set up both goals, next visit mid-table Werder Bremen on Saturday while Dortmund...
Read More
Blogarama - Blog Directory