October 2023 – Football Flame

31Oct

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LALIGA

Vinicius Jr extends Real contract

Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil prior the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has extended his contract until 2027.The Brazil international, 23, has scored 63 goals in 235 games and won nine trophies with Real, including the 2022 Champions League.Vinicius, whose contract was set to expire next year, joined for £38m as an 18-year-old from Flamengo in 2018."Hello Madrid fans, I am very happy to renew my contract. It is a dream for me," he said in a video clip on Real's social media."I hope I can continue here for many years, scoring many goals and winning many titles. Thank you very much for the love. Hala Madrid!"On Monday Vini...

31Oct

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Newcastle boss Howe plays down Manchester United revenge mission

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe gestures during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St. James Park on October 21, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said revenge is not on his mind ahead of Wednesday's League Cup trip to Manchester United for a repeat of last season's final.Howe's side were beaten 2-0 at Wembley in February as Newcastle's agonisingly long wait for a first domestic trophy, stretching back to 1955, was extended for atleast another season.Erik ten Hag's team have been disappointing this season and were brushed aside 3-0 in the Manchester derby at the weekend.But Howe was adamant that rubbing salt into United's wounds and gaining vengeance was not top of his priority list."That's not our emotion as I sit here ...

31Oct

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NEWS

Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for a record 8th time

Lionel Messi and sons Thiago Messi, Mateo Messi Roccuzzo and Ciro Messi Roccuzz attend the 67th Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet on October 30, 2023 in Paris, France. Major League Soccer star Lionel Messi has become the first player based in the league to grab the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy. The Inter Miami CF star beat out Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to win the prize for a record eighth time. The 36-year-old MLS-based player led the way for Argentina in the World Cup in 2022, which played a large part in his win this time. Barcelona player Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or Féminin award for a record-setting year, leading Barca to win Liga F and the Champions League.Even before his latest win, no player had garnered the Ballon d'Or prize in more ...

30Oct

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SERIE A

Thuram goal sends Inter top with a 1-0 win over Roma

Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale celebrates with his teammates L after scoring opening goal during the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 29, 2023 in Milan, Italy. On a night when Romelu Lukaku was the focus of Inter Milan fans' ire, Marcus Thuram - who replaced the departed Belgium striker at San Siro - scored in a 1-0 win over Roma to send the Nerazzurri back to the top of Serie A.Thuram redirected a cross from Federico Dimarco from close range in the 81st minute on Sunday to finally break through Jose Mourinho's massed defence.With Mourinho suspended from the dugout and watching from the stands, Roma sat back and absorbed attack after attack from high-flying Inter.In the first half, Roma conceded 12 shots without a s...

29Oct

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool show support for absent Diaz in Forest win

Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forest and Diogo Jota of Liverpool battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on October 29, 2023 in Liverpool, England.Liverpool's players applaud as Diogo Jota celebrates his goal by holding up a shirt with the name of team-mate Luis Diaz on itLiverpool's players applaud as Diogo Jota celebrates his goal by holding up a shirt with the name of team-mate Luis Diaz on itLiverpool's players showed their support to absent team-mate Luis Diaz during a comfortable win over Nottingham Forest at Anfield.Diaz missed the match following reports his parents had been kidnapped in Colombia, with officials still searching for the winger's missing father after his mother was rescued.Diogo Jota, surrounded by his team...

29Oct

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LALIGA

3 Real Madrid players who must step up the most after Aurélien Tchouaméni injury

08 Toni Kroos of Real Madrid during the La Liga "el clasico" match between FC Barcelona v Real Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on October 28th, 2023.Real Madrid fans were in jubilation after their late 2-1 victory over rivals Barcelona on the road in El Clásico, courtesy of two very different but equally important goals from new superstar Jude Bellingham.However, Bellingham wasn’t the only player who had a strong influence on the match. Defenders David Alaba and Dani Carvajal had goal-saving interventions, while Toni Kroos and Aurélien Tchouaméni were their usual stalwart selves in midfield against a very talented Barcelona trio.Unfortunately, Madridistas joy has turned to concern the day after the massive match, as Los Blancos officially announced Tchoua...

29Oct

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool ‘aware’ of ongoing Diaz family situation

Luis Diaz of Liverpool at AXA Training Centre on October 25, 2023 in Kirkby, England. Liverpool say they are "aware of an ongoing situation" involving the family of Luis Diaz after reports his parents had been kidnapped in Colombia.Colombian president Gustavo Petro said on social media that the 26-year-old's mother had been found in Barrancas but his father was still missing.Liverpool said Diaz's welfare "will continue to be our immediate priority"."It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity," the club said.The Colombian Football Federation also offered support to the forward and his family."We express our solidarity with him and his entire family and we call for the relevant authorities to act as quickly as possible to res...

29Oct

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Ligue 1

Loanee Wilson-Esbrand sends Reims fourth in France

Reims' defender #19 Joshua Wilson-Esbrand (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal for his team during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and FC Lorient at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, northern France on October 28, 2023.Substitute Josh Wilson-Esbrand has struck late as Reims edged Lorient 1-0 to move into fourth place in the French league.In Saturday's other Ligue 1 clash, last season's runners-up Lens continue to recover from their shaky start to the new campaign.Franck Haise's side climbed to ninth with a 4-0 thumping of Nantes helped by two goals and an assist from Florian Sotoca.On loan from Manchester City, Wilson-Esbrand opened his scoring account for Reims by curling into the far corner in the 84th minute."It was a no-brainer to come here...

29Oct

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SERIE A

After three-year wait, Juventus back on top of Serie A

Marco Baroni Head coach of Hellas Verona walks past as Juventus players celebrate the 1-0 victory with goalscorer Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus following the final whistle of the Serie A TIM match between Juventus and Hellas Verona FC at on October 28, 2023 in Turin, Italy. Embattled Juventus are on top of Serie A for the first time in more than three years.Substitute Andrea Cambiaso scored seven minutes into stoppage time to earn the 36-time Italian champions a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona in Turin on Saturday.Juventus, who won nine straight titles between 2012 and 2020, were most recently top of the pile on August 1, 2020 - 1183 days and nearly 125 matches ago."These are three important points that add continuity after the game in Milan," Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said, ...

28Oct

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Nketiah scores hat-trick as Arsenal thump Sheff Utd

Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023 in London, England.Eddie Nketiah scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Arsenal extended their unbeaten start to the season with victory over Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium.He opened the scoring with a deft touch and swivelled finish after Declan Rice's threaded ball caught out the United defence.Nketiah's thumping effort into the roof of the net increased Arsenal's lead against bottom-of-the-table United.A sensational strike from 25 yards completed a perfect afternoon for the England forward Nketiah, who has five league goals this season, all of which have come at home.Fa...