2023 – Page 42 – Football Flame

Year: 2023

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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’...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Achraf Hakimi, Ligue 1

Hakimi sees red as PSG lose at home to Lorient

 Referee Jérôme Brisard (C) shows a red card for Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint Germain (H) during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.Lorient stunned 10-man Paris St-Germain as the Ligue 1 leaders fell to their ninth defeat in all competitions in 2023. Enzo le Fee opened the scoring for Lorient, firing high into the net from Romain Faivre’s cutback. Achraf Hakimi was sent off for PSG after collecting two yellow cards in 15 minutes. Kylian Mbappe equalised for the home side but goals from Darlin Yongwa and Bamba Dieng sealed victory for Lorient. Yongwa finished into the bottom corner from close range as Lorient took the lead before half-time. Then in the 87th minute, Dieng made sure of the three points when ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool edge past Spurs in seven-goal thriller

 Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates scoring to make it 4-3 during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 30, 2023 in Liverpool, England.Diogo Jota’s injury-time winner gave Liverpool a dramatic victory at Anfield after Tottenham looked on course to salvage a point despite going three goals behind inside 15 minutes. Spurs were 5-0 down after 20 minutes at Newcastle United and swiftly found themselves three goals adrift at Anfield as Liverpool delivered an opening salvo that left them chasing what looked like a lost cause. Instead, when former Everton striker Richarlison headed his first Premier League goal of the season in stoppage time, Spurs were on the brink of rescuing an unlikely draw – until Jota capitalised on Cristian Romero’s mi...
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Luciano Spalletti, SERIE A

Napoli forced to wait for Serie A title after draw

Luciano Spalletti SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Salernitana at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 30, 2023 in Naples, Italy. Napoli will have to wait for their first Serie A title in 33 years after being held to a draw by Salernitana at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. They last won the league in 1990 with a Diego Maradona-inspired side adding to their first title three years earlier. Luciano Spalletti’s side were on course for the victory they needed when Mathias Olivera headed home a 62nd-minute corner. But Boulaye Dia equalised with a left-footed drive six minutes from time. It silenced an expectant crowd who made a cacophony of noise and set off blue smoke flares inside and outside the stadium, where thousands of fans lined the streets...
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Erling Haaland, Manchester City, PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City go top as Haaland reaches 50-goal mark

 Manchester City's Erling Haland in action with Fulham's Manor Soloman and Fulham's Antonee Robinson during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on April 30, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Manchester City beat Fulham to return to the top of the Premier League as Erling Haaland scored his 50th goal of the season in all competitions. Haaland converted a third-minute penalty, after Julian Alvarez had been fouled by Tim Ream, to become the first top-flight player to reach a half-century of goals in one campaign since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931. The Norwegian striker also moved level for most goals in a Premier League season – matching the 34 goals Andy Cole scored for Newcastle in 1993-94 and the same amount Alan Shearer r...
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Lautaro Martinez, SERIE A

Napoli on brink of Italian title after Lazio lose at Inter

 Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 30, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Napoli are one win away from ending a 33-year wait for the Serie A title on Sunday after Lazio lost 3-1 at Inter Milan. Runaway league leaders Napoli will secure their first Scudetto since 1990 if they beat Salernitana after Inter came back from a goal down at half-time at the San Siro thanks to a Lautaro Martinez brace and another strike from Robin Gosens. Inter’s three strikes, which all came in the final 13 minutes, moved Inter into Serie A’s Champions League places, ahead of AC Milan and Roma on goal difference, and also unleashed a wave of joy at the St...
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LALIGA

Benzema hat-trick for Madrid, Barca field 15-year-old

 Karim Benzema (L) of Real Madrid CF competes for the ball with Rodrigo Ely (R) of Almeria UD during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 29, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Karim Benzema has scored a first-half hat trick to lead Real Madrid to a 4-2 win over Almeria in a Spanish league game that threw up an injury scare for Vinicius Junior. The comfortable win ensured Madrid remain in second place, with Barcelona maintaining their commanding 11-point lead with a 4-0 win over nine-man Real Betis. With La Liga all but out of reach with six games remaining, the success of Madrid’s season hinges on next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and their Champions League semi-final with Manchester City. With Luka Modric already d...
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Nottingham Forest, PREMIER LEAGUE

Forest stunned as Dasilva seals Brentford comeback

 Danilo of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring their teams first goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Nottingham Forest at Brentford Community Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Brentford, England.Nottingham Forest were stunned as a late Brentford fightback denied them precious points in their fight for Premier League survival. Brazilian midfielder Danilo marked his 22nd birthday by putting Forest ahead just before half-time, reacting quickest to steer home Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot which deflected into his path. Brentford had plenty of the ball but created few clear chances until Ivan Toney’s 82nd-minute free-kick went in off Forest keeper Keylor Navas. With Forest hanging on and only 10 men on the pitch after Danilo went off injured, substitute Josh Dasilva score...
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Brighton & Hove Albion, PREMIER LEAGUE

Brighton thump Wolves to boost European hopes

Deniz Undav of Brighton & Hove Albion is congratulated by team-mate Kaoru Mitoma after he scores a goal to make it 6-0 during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers at American Express Community Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Brighton, England.Brighton reignited their push for a place in Europe next season by recording their biggest-ever top-flight victory at the expense of woeful Wolves. The Seagulls remain eighth in the Premier League but are now just a point behind Liverpool in seventh and two behind fifth-placed Tottenham, who have played two games more than Roberto de Zerbi’s side. Deniz Undav broke the deadlock with his first Premier League goal, before Pascal Gross made it 2-0 with an easy finish following Julio Enciso’s driving run...
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Jordan Ayew, PREMIER LEAGUE

Crystal Palace edge West Ham in seven-goal thriller

 Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace is challenged by Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park on April 29, 2023 in London, England.Crystal Palace edged a seven-goal thriller against West Ham to reach the 40-point mark targeted by manager Roy Hodgson and leave the Hammers in relegation trouble. Former England boss Hodgson has led Palace to four wins in six games since returning as manager last month to almost certainly guide the Eagles, now 11 points clear of the bottom three, to safety. Kick-off in south London was delayed by 15 minutes because of an issue with the turnstiles – but there was no shortage of action once the match got under way. Although West Ham took an early lead when Tomas Soucek punished M...
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BUNDESLIGA, Karim Adeyemi

Bundesliga leaders Dortmund drop key points at Bochum

 Cristian Gamboa of VfL Bochum and Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum 1848 and Borussia Dortmund at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on April 28, 2023 in Bochum, Germany.Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund have dropped important points in the title race after being held to a 1-1 draw by a brave Bochum side. With the point gained on Friday, Dortmund still top the league, now with a two-point advantage over Bayern Munich. But the Bavarians can regain their customary place at the top on Sunday if they can beat Hertha Berlin, who are bottom of the table. For Bochum, though, it was a vital point in the relegation fight for a side who are now winless in the last five games. Bochum found the net with only five minutes on the clock thanks...
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