2023 – Page 44 – Football Flame

Year: 2023

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Michael Antonio, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

West Ham hammer Bournemouth to move clear of danger

 Michail Antonio of West Ham United scores the team's first goal past Neto of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on April 23, 2023 in Bournemouth, England. West Ham took a big step towards Premier League safety by thrashing fellow strugglers Bournemouth. An unmarked Michael Antonio rose highest and headed home from Aaron Cresswell’s corner for the opener at Vitality Stadium. Lucas Paqueta scored another header, getting on the end of a deep cross from Vladimir Coufal, as West Ham scored twice in the opening 12 minutes. Hammers captain Declan Rice smashed past Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto for number three just before half-time, with the home side failing to clear the ball from Cresswell’s corner once more. ...
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Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

Newcastle humiliate Spurs to close on top-four spot

 Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates his sides 5th goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on April 23, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Newcastle United humiliated Tottenham Hotspur with five goals in 21 stunning first-half minutes as they ran out easy winners in what was billed as a showdown for a top-four spot. Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak each scored twice and Joelinton added another as Newcastle scythed through a porous visiting defence that was already under the spotlight from last week’s defeat against Bournemouth. Harry Kane pulled one back in the second half at St James’ Park but Callum Wilson added a sixth shortly after coming off the bench to complete the rout. The embarrassing defeat...
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Inter Milan, Romelu Lukaku, UCL

Lukaku’s ban overturned in statement against racism

 Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale in action during the FC Internazionale training session at the club's training ground Suning Training Center on April 22, 2023 in Como, Italy. Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku will play in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Juventus after his one-match ban was overturned by the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as a measure to fight racism.Inter expressed their disappointment on Friday when Italy’s Sports Court of Appeal upheld the ban for Lukaku, imposed after he was sent off in the first leg after a ‘hush’ gesture to fans who targeted him with racial abuse.FIGC President Gabriele Gravina overturned the suspension after evaluating the report of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. The report indicated “unequivocally ...
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Ivan Ilic, SERIE A, UCL

Juventus the winners as Lazio lose to Torino in Serie A

 Felipe Anderson of SS Lazio fights for the ball with Ivan Ilic of Torino FC during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on April 22, 2023 in Rome, Italy.Lazio have failed to consolidate second spot in Serie A after they were beaten by mid-table Torino 1-0 to end a run of four straight wins. Ivan Ilic netted the only goal two minutes before halftime to help Torino to their first win in five matches. The result left Lazio two points above third-placed Juventus, who could cap a memorable week with a win over runaway leaders Napoli on Sunday (Monday AEST). In a morale-boosting few days, Juventus on Thursday had their 15-point penalty suspended and also reached the Europa League semi-finals. The return of the points – removed over transfer dealings – lifted ...
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BUNDESLIGA, Thomas Tuchel, UCL

Tuchel ‘at a loss’ after Bayern humbled by Mainz

 Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of FC Bayern Munich, gives the team instructions during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern München at MEWA Arena on April 22, 2023 in Mainz, Germany. Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said he was “at a loss” and had “no explanation” for his side’s second-half capitulation in a 3-1 defeat at Mainz on Saturday. With Bayern in control and leading 1-0 at half-time after Sadio Mane’s first goal since October, the visitors conceded three goals in 14 minutes. The loss gave Borussia Dortmund a chance to go first with a win when they host Eintracht Frankfurt later on Saturday. A “perplexed” Tuchel said his side “was missing the energy to fight back from setbacks”. “We look like a team that’s played 80 games so far this season. “We look ...
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Javi Gracia, Leeds United, UCL

Leeds’ survival hopes dealt blow by Fulham

 Jack Harrison and Javi Gracia, Manager of Leeds United, look dejected following the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on April 22, 2023 in London, England.Leeds United’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League were dealt another blow as Fulham condemned Javi Gracia’s side to a third successive defeat at Craven Cottage. Second-half goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira proved enough to earn victory for the hosts, who reinforced their bid to seal a top-half finish and climbed one place to ninth. But the loss means Leeds remain just two points above the relegation places, in 16th, before Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City directly below them play later on Saturday. A quality first-time finish by Wilson, after Illan Me...
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BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, UCL

Official: Barcelona squad list to face Atletico Madrid

 Xavi Hernandez during the training session held at the Ciutat Esportiva Tito Vilanova, prior to the Cup semifinal match against Real Madrid, in Barcelona, on 04th April 2023.Barcelona will be aiming to end their three-match winless streak when they lock horns with La Liga’s most in-form team in Atletico Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday. Barça have been held to back-to-back goalless draws in their last two matches by Girona and Getafe, before which they were beaten 4-0 by Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. So, it is imperative for Xavi Hernandez & co. to produce a strong reaction this weekend. Ahead of the match, the Barcelona manager has released the squad list that will be at his disposal to face Atletico Madrid. And the big news is that midfield duo Frenkie de Jon...
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Bart Verbruggen, BAYERN MUNICH, UCL

Bayern Munich join the race for Verbruggen

 Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen of RSC Anderlecht makes a save during the UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter Finals 2nd leg match between AZ and RSC Anderlecht at AFAS Stadion on April 20, 2023 in Alkmaar, Netherlands.According to Het Nieuwsblad, Bayern Munich has set their sights on signing Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht. The 20-year-old is having an excellent campaign with Anderlecht and he was recently in the Netherlands squad for the first time. Verbruggen still has two years left in his contract at Anderlecht but a summer transfer is becoming more and more likely with Liverpool and Manchester United previously linked. Now, Het Nieuwsblad is reporting that Bayern Munich wants the Dutchman. Voor Anderlecht lijkt het zo langzamerhand onmogelijk te worden om Bart Verbruggen nog lang ...
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Bukayo Saka, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

Title-chasing Arsenal salvage point against Saints

 Bukayo Saka of Arsenal shoots during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on April 21, 2023 in London, England.Premier League leaders Arsenal scored two late goals as they fought back to draw a thriller at home to struggling Southampton. It was a third draw in a row for the Gunners and their pursuit of the title is no longer in their own hands. Manchester City are now five points behind but with two games in hand – and host the Gunners at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday. Saints led after just 28 seconds, when Carlos Alcaraz capitalised on an Aaron Ramsdale error to score. Arsenal have now conceded the two fastest goals at home in the Premier League this season, the other being Philip Billing’s strike after 9.11 seconds for Bournemouth. Theo...
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Granit Xhaka, Mikel Arteta, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains why Xhaka misses clash with Southampton

 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with Granit Xhaka during a training session at London Colney on December 29, 2022 in St Albans, England.Mikel Arteta has revealed the reason why Granit Xhaka was absent from Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Southampton on Friday evening. The Swiss international was omitted from the Gunners’ matchday squad against the bottom-of-the-table due to illness. He was replaced by Portuguese Fabio Vieira alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in midfield. It was one of two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with West Ham last week. Oleksandr Zinchenko returned to the starting XI at left-back with Kieran Tierney dropping down to the bench. Speaking to Sky Sports before the game, Arteta said: “Very different qualities, this morning unfortunately Granit [Xhaka]...
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Julian Nagelsmann, NEWS, UCL

Nagelsmann talks collapse in latest twist to Chelsea manager search

 Former head coach Julian Nagelsmann of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on March 19, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. Julian Nagelsmann will not become the next manager of Chelsea after talks between the two parties collapsed. The Blues had made the German one of four candidates to succeed interim boss Frank Lampard in the summer, along with Mauricio Pochettino, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and another unnamed candidate. However, talks collapsed on Friday with the club and coach not seeing eye to eye on the decision to undertake a lengthy process to hire the new manager. Chelsea were left unconvinced that Nagelsmann, 35, was the right man to take the club forward after receiving mixed feedback on him during...
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EUROPA LEAGUE, Jose Mourinho, NEWS, UCL

Mourinho: ‘I’ve seen it all in Europe, Dybala found joy at Roma’

 AS Roma player Paulo Dybala and coach Josè Mourinho during the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at Stadio Olimpico on April 20, 2023 in Rome, Italy.Jose Mourinho hails Roma for knocking Feyenoord out in extra time to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League semi-final, explains why he has ‘white hair and have seen it all’ and how Paulo Dybala rediscovered his joy. The Giallorossi had a battle on their hands at the Olimpico to overturn the 1-0 first leg deficit and were on the verge of elimination when Igor Paixao’s free header cancelled out the Leonardo Spinazzola opener. However, Dybala came off the bench and his fantastic control and turn forced extra time. Stephan El Shaarawy and Lorenzo Pellegrini – with a long VAR wait for the Tamm...
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Michail Antonio, UCL, West Ham

West Ham thrash Gent to reach semi-finals

 Michail Antonio of West Ham United celebrates with Lucas Paqueta after scoring goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal second leg match between West Ham United and KAA Gent at London Stadium on April 20, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.West Ham booked a Europa Conference League semi-final meeting with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar after a rousing comeback against Gent at London Stadium. Michail Antonio scored twice, with Lucas Paqueta converting a penalty to make amends for his part in the visitors’ 26th-minute opener. Skipper Declan Rice added a brilliant third, finding the net with a low shot at the end of a surging run that started in his own half. It was too much in the end for Gent, who were outclassed after taking the lead on aggregate through Hugo Cuypers’ first-half...
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EUROPA LEAGUE, UCL, Youssef En-Nesyri

Dismal Manchester United dumped out of Europe by sensational Sevilla

 Yousseff En-Nesyri of Sevilla FC runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Victor Lindelof of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal Second Leg match between Sevilla FC and Manchester United at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 20, 2023 in Seville, Spain. No one anticipated that it would happen, but Spanish side Sevilla, who sit 13th in La Liga, have knocked 20-time English champions Manchester United out of the Europa League thanks to a well-deserved 3-0 triumph at home, and will take on Italian powerhouse Juventus in a two-legged semifinal on May 11 and 18. The stunning victory at their boisterous Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium on Thursday night means Sevilla have now come out on top in all seven UEFA Cup and Europa League quarterfinals they have...
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Achraf Hakimi, NEWS, Saida Mouh, UCL

Hakimi’s mother breaks silence on son’s fortune transfer

 Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi (R) is greeted by his mother at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 27, 2022.Saida Mouh, mother of Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has broken her silence on the trending wealth transfer saga. She however emphasised that if her son had not done so, he would not be able to get rid of his ex-wife, Hiba Abouk. Hakimi’s wife, Abouk, had filed for a divorce, seeking to get 50 percent of the player’s assets but was told in court that his assets and wealth are registered under the player’s mother’s name. The pair started courting in 2018, married in 2020 and have two sons. She filed for divorce in March 2023. Reacting, Mouh told Moroccan media – Mor...
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PREMIER LEAGUE, Toti Gomes, UCL, Wolverhampton

Julen Lopetegui delighted with Toti Gomes’ Wolves form

 Julen Lopetegui, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, drinks prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford FC at Molineux on April 15, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England. Julen Lopetegui has heaped praise on Toti Gomes for taking his chance in the Wolves team. The 24-year-old had to wait patiently after featuring on January 17 and then waiting two-and-a-half months for his next appearance, when he started at left-back against Nottingham Forest on April 1. Gomes has kept his place in the last three games and put in superb performances, which prompted Lopetegui to praise the defender’s patience and attitude. “Toti has been out of the squad list for a lot of matches but he continued working and he was ready,” the head coach said. “When the alarm clock c...
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Champions League, Erling Haaland, NEWS, UCL

Man City see off Bayern to set up Real Madrid semi

 Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts to Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal second leg match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City at Allianz Arena on April 19, 2023 in Munich, Germany. Manchester City set up a Champions League semi-final clash with holders Real Madrid as Erling Haaland’s goal ended Bayern Munich’s hopes of a comeback. Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side needed a miracle to go through after losing the first leg 3-0 – and they squandered plenty of opportunities to get back into the game. Haaland made them pay as he lashed home a shot into the top corner to cap off a swift counter-attack, 15 seconds after Ederson had saved Kingsley Coman’s shot at the other end. That was the Norwegian’s 48th goal for City this s...
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Champions League, Inter Milan, NEWS, UCL

Inter see off Benfica to set up Milan derby semi-final

 Rafa Silva of SL Benfica is challenged by Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between FC Internazionale and SL Benfica at San Siro Stadium on April 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy.Inter Milan secured a historic Champions League semi-final with arch-rivals AC Milan despite being held by Benfica at an ecstatic San Siro. Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Lisbon, Inter increased their aggregate lead following Nicolo Barella’s sumptuous finish before a bullet header by Fredrik Aursnes gave Benfica hope. Argentina World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez and substitute Joaquin Correa made it 5-1 on aggregate before Benfica scored two late goals through Antonio Silva and Petar Musa. Inter have lost four of their past five games in Serie A to ...
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin, EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, UCL

Dominic Calvert-Lewin drops major hint over Everton injury return date

 Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton looks on during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Fulham FC at Goodison Park on April 15, 2023 in Liverpool, England.Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has dropped a major hint that he could finally be ready to return from injury to spearhead their battle to beat the drop. Calvert-Lewin has not played for the relegation-threatened Blues since February when the talisman picked up a hamstring injury in new manager Sean Dyche’s first game in charge. His season has been blighted by setbacks and Everton have only had their No.9 fit and available for 11 matches in the Premier League. But could the England international be pencilled in for a first-team return on Saturday afternoon? Sitting one position above the bottom three, on goal differe...
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EUROPA LEAGUE, Marcus Rashford, NEWS, UCL

Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw return to Manchester United squad for Sevilla clash

 Marcus Rashford of Manchester United reacts during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground ahead of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg match against Sevilla FC on April 19, 2023 in Manchester, England.Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has named his 21-man squad for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla at Estadio Ramon on Thursday night. The headline news is that there is a return to the squad for Marcus Rashford, who has missed the team’s last two matches with the problem that he suffered against Everton on April 8. A statement from Man United in the aftermath of the match said that the England international would be out for ‘a few games’, and he was absent for the first leg against Sevilla, which finished 2-2, an...
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