2023 – Page 41 – Football Flame

Year: 2023

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal keep title hopes alive with win at Newcastle

 Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on May 7, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.Newcastle, attempting to strengthen their push for a place in the Champions League next season, started at lightning pace – Jacob Murphy hitting the post and having a penalty award overturned by VAR. Arsenal, however, showed their strength and it was inspirational captain Martin Odegaard who followed up his double against Chelsea in midweek by drilling his 15th Premier League goal of the season past Newcastle keeper Nick Pope from 25 yards after 14 minutes. What followed was a magnificent game full of opportunities in a frenzied atmosphere, Pope saving crucially from Ga...
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SERIE A

Juventus win turns Champions League fight into four-horse race

Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Juventus at Gewiss Stadium on May 7, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.Juventus’ win and Atalanta’s defeat has had an important ramifications on the top four race, essentially leaving four teams fighting for three Champions League qualification spots. The Bianconeri secured a key 2-0 win away to la Dea on Sunday, with goals from Samuel Iling-Junior and Dusan Vlahovic being enough to snatch all three points in a tense and heated affair, which also saw the Serbian striker suffer racial abuse from a large number of fans at the Gewiss Stadium. Milan and Inter also won their Serie A outings this weekend, beating Lazio and Roma respectively, keeping things interesting at the top of the league table. With four games lef...
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LALIGA

Real Madrid win first Copa del Rey since 2014

 Karim Benzema of Real Madrid lifts the Copa del Rey trophy after their side's victory in the Copa del Rey Final match between Real Madrid and CA Osasuna at Estadio de La Cartuja on May 06, 2023 in Seville, Spain. Rodrygo scored twice as Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2014 after beating Osasuna in the final in Seville. The Brazilian was on hand to fire the winner from close range after Toni Kroos’ shot deflected into his path. Osasuna, playing in only their second Copa del Rey final, had threatened an upset when Lucas Torro levelled. Rodrygo handed Real an early lead with the fastest goal in a Spanish cup final for 17 years after 106 seconds. Osasuna, backed by nearly 25,000 fans inside the Estadio de La Cartuja, had their chances as they chased a first...
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BUNDESLIGA

Leipzig beats Freiburg to boost Champions League chances

 Bayern Munich's German midfielder Leroy Sane celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich in Bremen, northwestern Germany, on May 6, 2023. Bayern Munich survived a nervy finish to edge closer to the Bundesliga title with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen that opened up a four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Gnabry broke through in the 62nd minute, seizing on the loose ball and scoring after Jamal Musiala mishit a shot off Sadio Mané’s pass. Leroy Sané doubled the Bayern lead 10 minutes later with a first-time shot from a narrow angle off Noussair Mazraoui’s incisive throughball. Bremen brought the game back to life out of nowhere when Niklas Schmidt curle...
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Julen Lopetegui, PREMIER LEAGUE

Wolves edge out Villa to banish relegation fears

 Julen Lopetegui the head coach / manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates the 1-0 victory during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa at Molineux on May 6, 2023.Toti scored his first Wolves goal as Julen Lopetegui’s side beat European hopefuls Aston Villa at Molineux to banish any lingering fears of Premier League relegation. The hard-fought victory lifts Lopetegui’s team to 40 points, 10 clear of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest, who have four games left to play. Portuguese centre-back Toti gave Wolves the lead inside 10 minutes, sending a towering header beyond Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez via the underside of the crossbar. The visitors dominated possession and went close to equalising in the first half through Emiliano Buendia and Ollie ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Kane surpasses Rooney on scoring list in Spurs win

 Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 6, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Harry Kane became the outright second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history as Tottenham ended a four-game winless run with a much-needed victory over Crystal Palace. Kane, 29, expertly headed in Pedro Porro’s cross in first-half added time to reach 209 goals in the competition and surpass former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney. It proved enough to earn a first victory under interim manager Ryan Mason and move Spurs above Brighton into sixth place – although they have now played three games more than the Seagulls, who face Everton on Monday. The hosts had go...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea beat Bournemouth for first win since Lampard return

 Chelsea's Portuguese striker Joao Felix (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on May 6, 2023.Two late goals finally gave Frank Lampard his first win since his return as Chelsea’s interim manager. The Blues had lost all four Premier League games since Lampard’s return in April, but had led through Conor Gallagher’s early header. Matias Vina levelled for Bournemouth, but Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix struck inside the last 10 minutes. Relegation remains a possibility for the Cherries with three games left, while Chelsea are 11th in the table. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling among five players left out from the side that h...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Nervy Man City beat Allardyce’s Leeds to go four points clear at top

 Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leeds United at Etihad Stadium on May 6, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester City moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League by surviving a late scare to beat a Leeds side playing under new manager Sam Allardyce for the first time. Two fine first-half goals by Ilkay Gundogan had done the damage for City, who appeared utterly dominant as they headed towards their 10th straight league win.Gundogan’s first neat finish, which came after Riyad Mahrez found him in space on the edge of the area, was into the bottom left-hand corner of Joel Robles’ goal. His second, again with Mahrez the provider, was identical apart from that h...
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Carlo Ancelotti, LALIGA

Real focus on Copa del Rey not Man City—Ancelloti

 Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid speak to the players during the Training session at Estadio de La Cartuja on May 05, 2023 in Seville, Spain. Real Madrid will face CA Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final on May 6, 2023.Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says his players’ focus is fully on Saturday’s Copa del Rey final and not the crucial upcoming Champions League clash with Manchester City. The Spanish giants host City in their semi-final first leg next Tuesday. But they have the chance to win a trophy before then when they take on Osasuna in Seville. “We will go out there without thinking about what’s happening the next day,” Ancelotti, 63, said. “We will go out with all the energy in the world to win another title. The players are motivated.” Cup competitions are crucial for Real...
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BUNDESLIGA

Cologne shock Leverkusen, Schalke log another vital win

 Nadiem Amiri of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Davie Selke of 1. FC Koeln battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Köln at BayArena on May 5, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany.Bayer Leverkusen’s dress rehearsal for their Europa league semi-final at Roma has not gone to plan after going down to a surprise 2-1 Bundesliga derby home defeat against Cologne. Davie Selke struck twice to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run of 14 games in all competitions in a match brought forward by two days from Sunday to give Leverkusen more time to prepare for Thursday’s trip to Rome. Marius Bulter meanwhile converted a penalty 12 minutes into stoppage time to give Schalke a 3-2 victory at Mainz and boost their survival hopes. Selke headed Cologne ahead on their first serious a...
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Ligue 1

PSG’s Messi apologises for unauthorised Saudi trip

 MESSI Lionel of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in action during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Lorient at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, France, on April 30, 2023.Lionel Messi has apologised to his Paris St-Germain teammates and says he will wait for the club to decide what they want to do with him after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia. The Argentina captain was suspended by the club for two weeks for the trip. It followed PSG’s home defeat by Lorient on Sunday – their third in six games – when Messi played 90 minutes. “I am sorry for what I did and I wait to see what the club decides,” Messi said in a video posted on Instagram. “I honestly thought we were going to have the day off after the match as had happened in the previous w...
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Andre Silva, BUNDESLIGA

Andre Silva wants to leave RB Leipzig in the summer

 Andre Miguel Valente da Silva of Leipzig runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and 1. FC Köln at Red Bull Arena on February 11, 2022 in Leipzig, Germany.RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva wants to leave RB Leipzig in the summer as he has become unhappy with his game time, according to Bild Sport.The 27-year-old has spent most of this season coming off the bench for Leipzig and when he has played he has not reached the levels he did at Eintracht Frankfurt where he scored 45 goals in 71 games. In Silva’s two years in Leipzig, he has scored 26 goals in 94. The situation is likely to get worse for Silva as Red Bull Salzburg’s Benjamin Seško is to join Leipzig at the end of the season. Leipzig are preparing for the departure of Silva as new Leipzig sporting direct...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Brighton score late penalty to beat Man Utd

 Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring his side's first goal from a penalty during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at American Express Community Stadium on May 4, 2023 in Brighton, United Kingdom.  Manchester United’s Champions League hopes suffered a setback as Brighton scored a dramatic 99th-minute penalty winner to keep their own European ambitions on track. Alexis Mac Allister converted deep into injury time to settle a Premier League thriller at Amex Stadium. United – in the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot – stay four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, but now have only one game in hand. And Brighton deserved this victory for a relentless approach that finally gave them ...
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SERIE A, Victor Osimhen

Napoli win Italian title for first time in 33 years

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SSC Napoli at Dacia Arena on May 4, 2023 in Udine, Italy.Napoli won their first Serie A title for 33 years as they drew with Udinese at Dacia Arena to spark jubilant celebrations back in Naples. They last won the league in 1990 with a Diego Maradona-inspired side adding to their first title three years. Victor Osimhen smashed in a 52nd-minute equaliser after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a shock lead. And Napoli held on to the point they needed to win their third Serie A title with five games to spare. “Seeing Neapolitans happy is enough to give you a sense of that joy they are feeling,” Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti told DAZN. “These people will look to t...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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