2023 – Page 51 – Football Flame
Latest Football News

Year: 2023

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England, Marcus Rashford, NEWS

Rashford ruled out of England Euro qualifiers

 Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in action during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on March 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. England will be without Marcus Rashford for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine after the in-form Manchester United forward picked up a knock in Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Fulham. Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount have also pulled out of Gareth Southgate’s squad. Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the only replacement called up by Southgate, who named a 25-man squad last week. Rashford’s absence is the most serious blow given his scintillating form since the World Cup. The 25-year-old has scored a career-high 27 goals for United this season, 19 of whi...
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BUNDESLIGA, Rani Khedira, Union Berlin

Khedira leads Union Berlin to third in Bundesliga

 Rani Khedira of 1. FC Union Berlin celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadion an der alten Försterei on March 19, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.Bayern Munich have won the last ten Bundesliga titles but, while few would bet against them not winning an eleventh, a defeat at Bayer Leverkusen has left them trailing Borussia Dortmund with nine games remaining in Germany. Bayer was indebted to VAR, defeating Bayern with the aid of two penalties both given by the technology-assisted referee. “It was the perfect example today of great collaboration with the video assistant,” referee Tobias Stieler said. “He gets a lot of complaints and is always very harshly criticised. Today it was a lif...
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BARCELONA FC, El Clasico, LALIGA, Real Madrid

Barca snatch Clasico win to strike La Liga title blow

 Franck Kessie of FC Barcelona celebrates with Ferran Torres and Sergi Roberto of FC Barcelona after scoring the team's second goal during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on March 19, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a thrilling El Clasico on Sunday to dash the Whites’ title hopes. Visitors Real Madrid took an early lead in a fortunate way at Spotify Camp Nou as Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior crossed from the left but the ball deflected off Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo’s head and went into Barca’s net. Barcelona leveled the match before the break as Sergi Roberto was in the box when Real Madrid could not clear the ball. Roberto took advantage of a rebound to unleash a ...
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ARSENAL FC, Crystal Palace, PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal Cruise past Palace to go eight points clear

  Bukayo Saka of Arsenal (Obscured) celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on March 19, 2023 in London, England. Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a routine home victory over managerless Crystal Palace. The Gunners, aiming to become champions for the first time since 2003-04, went ahead at Emirates Stadium through Gabriel Martinelli's left-footed strike - his sixth goal in six league matches. Bukayo Saka doubled the lead when he collected Ben White's pass and curled an effort past 19-year-old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth. Granit Xhaka made it 3-0 with a first-time finish from Leandro Trossard's assist, before Jeffrey Schlu...
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Borussia Dortmund, BUNDESLIGA, Marco Reus

Six of the best as Dortmund surge to top of Bundesliga

 Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund dribbles with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Koln at the Signal Iduna Park on March 18, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany.Borussia Dortmund have powered to the top of the Bundesliga – for a day at least – after four well-worked team goals set up a 6-1 home thumping of faltering Cologne. Bayern Munich can reclaim first place on Sunday with a point at Bayer Leverkusen, but Dortmund made sure they headed into the international break in great spirits thanks to first-half goals from Raphael Guerreiro, Sebastien Haller, Marco Reus and Donyell Malen. In the second half, Haller had a tap-in before Reus struck the sixth. “We started well and had good control of the game,” Reus told Sky after his 150th Bundesliga goal on Saturda...
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AC Milan, SERIE A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic is oldest Serie A scorer in AC Milan loss

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan has an attempt at goal with a header during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at the Dacia Arena on March 18, 2023 in Udine, Italy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the oldest scorer in Serie A history at age 41 but had little else to celebrate after defending champions AC Milan were beaten 3-1 at Udinese. Saturday’s result extended Milan’s winless streak to three matches in the Italian league. Roberto Pereyra, Beto and Kingsley Ehizibue scored for Udinese. Milan were beaten by Fiorentina and held to a draw by Salernitana in their previous two Serie A matches, while advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 aggregate win over Tottenham. They missed the chance to jump to second and remained fourth with 48 points, a...
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LALIGA, Oscar Trejo, Rayo Vallecano

Rayo botch trick penalty in Spanish league draw

 Oscar Trejo of Rayo Vallecano during a match between Rayo Vallecano v Girona FC as part of LaLiga in Madrid, Spain, on March 18, 2022.Where soccer greats Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff succeeded, the talented but mortal midfielders of Rayo Vallecano have come up short. The modest Madrid-based club were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Girona in the Spanish league after failing with back-to-back penalties – including a botched trick penalty kick -in a sequence that will go down as one of the oddest in recent memory for Spanish soccer. Isi Palazon and Oscar Trejo had already scored to put their team ahead 2-1 when Rayo had a penalty call in their favour just before halftime. Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga saved Trejo’s spot kick, but he got another chance after the referee ordered the penalty ...
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Brentford, Leicester city, PREMIER LEAGUE

Leicester end losing run with draw at Brentford

 Harvey Barnes of Leicester City takes on Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Leicester City at Gtech Community Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Brentford, England.Leicester City gained a crucial point and ended their five-match losing run as Harvey Barnes netted a second-half equaliser at high-flying Brentford in the Premier League. Barnes was sent through on goal by James Maddison shortly after half-time, dinking the ball over Brentford keeper David Raya. Earlier, Mathias Jensen’s deflected shot had put Brentford ahead in the 32nd minute at the Gtech Community Stadium. In the closing stages, Brentford substitute Shandon Baptiste was sent off for a second bookable offence, catching Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. A point for Leicester saw them stay 1...
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Leeds United, PREMIER LEAGUE, Wolverhampton

Leeds out of bottom three with victory at Wolves

 Jonny of Wolverhampton Wanderers challenges Luke Ayling of Leeds United which resulted in him receiving a red card during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on March 18, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.Leeds climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone after holding off a late Wolves fightback to win an enthralling game at Molineux. The victory lifts Javi Gracia’s side – who started the day in 19th – four places and two points above the bottom three. Jack Harrison, who scored in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Brighton, side-footed Wilfried Gnonto’s cut-back past Jose Sa to give the visitors an early lead after a bright start. Leeds doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half as Luke Ayling, left completel...
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PREMIER LEAGUE, Southampton FC, Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton comeback earns late point against Spurs

 James Ward-Prowse of Southampton scores the team's third goal from a penalty kick during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Southampton, England.A late James Ward-Prowse penalty earned Southampton a deserved point in a thrilling encounter as they came from behind against Tottenham at St Mary’s. A fragmented first half never really got going as both sides were forced into two substitutions apiece with Richarlison and Ben Davies coming off injured for Spurs and Saints’ Armel Bella-Kotchap and Jan Bednarek also replaced. Pedro Porro broke the deadlock, hammering a shot into the roof of the net just before half time. Che Adams levelled 47 seconds into the second half, but Saints were staring a...
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Darwin Nunez, NEWS, Uruguay

Nunez pulls out of Uruguay squad with injury

 Darwin Nunez of Liverpool FC runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 15, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has pulled out of the Uruguay squad for their upcoming friendlies because of injury. The 23-year-old forward was named in the squad for Uruguay’s matches against Japan and South Korea on 24 and 28 March respectively. Nunez will instead receive treatment at the Premier League club’s training centre. Liverpool did not specify what the injury was in their statement but reports suggest it is an ankle issue. It is thought he sustained the injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Liverpool lost 6-2 on aggregate in the last 16. Club ...
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Atalanta, Rasmus Winther Hojlund, SERIE A

Atalanta beat Empoli to boost Champions League hopes

 Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates with teammates Matteo Ruggeri (L) and Jose Luis Palomino (R) after scoring the team's second goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Empoli FC at Gewiss Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.Substitute Rasmus Winther Hojlund scored late to help Atalanta fight back to beat Empoli 2-1 in Serie A and boost their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.Winther Hojlund scored the winner just seven minutes after coming off the bench. Marten de Roon had cancelled out Tyronne Ebuehi’s opener for Empoli.The victory snapped Atalanta’s winless run and lifted them to within three points of fourth-placed AC Milan, who visit Udinese on Saturday.Empoli remained nine points above the relegation zone.Atalanta had lost three of their ...
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Borussia Monchengladbach, BUNDESLIGA, Werder Bremen

Ducksch double salvages draw for Bremen at Gladbach

 Marvin Ducksch of SV Werder Bremen runs with the ball past Ko Itakura of Borussia Moenchengladbach on the way to scoring the team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and SV Werder Bremen at Borussia-Park on March 17, 2023 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. Two goals from Marvin Ducksch has salvaged a draw for Werder Bremen against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga and punished Gladbach for wasteful shooting. Gladbach were looking for a landmark 500th home win in Bundesliga history and on course after goals by Marcus Thuram and Florian Neuhaus. But Ducksch twice levelled the score for an otherwise unthreatening Bremen team and could have won the game in stoppage time. Gladbach dominated the first half but failed to score off a series of c...
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Athletic Bilbao, Inigo Martinez, LALIGA

Bilbao victory at Valladolid ends winless La Liga run

Inigo Martinez of Athletic Club passes the ball whilst under pressure from Oscar Plano of Real Valladolid CF during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Valladolid CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on March 17, 2023 in Valladolid, Spain.Inigo Martinez scored from a free kick to help Athletic Bilbao win at Valladolid 3-1 in the Spanish league on the same day the veteran defender was called back to Spain’s national team. Martinez fired his free kick past the barrier for the opener on the half-hour mark. He was included in the first squad of new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente announced hours before the league game. The centre back played for Spain until June before former national coach Luis Enrique dropped him ahead of the World Cup. Gorka Guruzeta added a second goal...
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LALIGA, Real Madrid, Xavi Hernandez

Clasico win to guarantee Barca title

 Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at San Mames Stadium on March 12, 2023 in Bilbao, Spain.Xavi Hernandez and his Barcelona side can take a decisive step towards winning La Liga on Sunday – where a Clasico victory over Real Madrid would send them 12 points clear of the champions. The Catalans have not won the Spanish title since Ernesto Valverde was at the helm in 2019 and expanding the gap on their bitter rivals in second would virtually clinch it. Madrid won the first La Liga Clasico 3-1 in October but Xavi’s side have vastly improved since then. The coach is desperate to win the league title to validate the team’s growth, while for the club it would represent a swift return on their outlay last summe...
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Alexander Isak, Newcastle United, PREMIER LEAGUE

Newcastle’s Isak scores late winner at Forest

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his winning goal by penalty (1-2) during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United at City Ground on March 17, 2023 in Nottingham, United Kingdom.In an eventful encounter, Newcastle substitute Elliot Anderson thought he had made it 2-1 when he thumped in a header at the back post, only for it to be ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up. Newcastle were on top for large spells and hit the crossbar twice in the first half, either side of a glorious chance fired over by Joe Willock from close range. Forest’s opener came against the run of play when Newcastle defender Sven Botman unforgivably gifted possession to Dennis, who smartly chipped it over the players standing guard on the goalline. The vis...
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Champions League, Chelsea, NEWS

Champions League draw produces top-heavy quarter-final line-up

 Presenter Pedro Pinto speaks during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Quarter-finals and Semi-finals Draw at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on March 17, 2023, in Nyon, Switzerland.Chelsea will play holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the winners facing either Manchester City or Bayern Munich following a top-heavy draw that produced two blockbuster ties. On the other side of the draw Napoli will face AC Milan in an all-Italian clash while Inter Milan will play Benfica, with one of those sides guaranteed to reach the Champions League final. Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in last season’s quarter-finals on their way to lifting the Champions League for the 14th time and Friday’s draw produced a repeat of that tie. Manchester Cit...
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Crystal Palace, PREMIER LEAGUE, Roy Hodgson

Crystal Palace ready to consider Roy Hodgson reunion

 Roy Hodgson applauds the fans after reaching a Forever Fulham Award during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on January 23, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Crystal Palace are reportedly open to a reunion with former manager Roy Hodgson. On Friday morning, Palace announced that they had taken the decision to sack Patrick Vieira after failing to win a single game since the turn of the year. While the Eagles still occupy 12th position in the Premier League standings, they sit just three points above the relegation zone and five ahead of bottom spot. Although Paddy McCarthy, the club’s Under-21 boss, has been placed in temporary charge for Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Arsenal, Palace will now assess their options. Ralph Hasenhuttl and...
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Patrick Vieira, PREMIER LEAGUE

Palace need to change mindset, says Vieira as Brighton boost Euro hopes

 Albert Sambi Lokonga shakes hands with Patrick Vieira, Manager of Crystal Palace, after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at American Express Community Stadium on March 15, 2023 in Brighton, England. Patrick Vieira says his Crystal Palace side need to change their “mindset” to end their 11-game winless run that has dragged them towards a relegation battle. Palace have managed just four goals since the turn of the year and only fellow strugglers Everton, Wolves and Southampton have scored less than the Eagles’ 21 goals this term. A third consecutive 1-0 defeat, on Wednesday against a Brighton side chasing European football, followed a frustratingly familiar pattern for Vieira with his side spurning three good chances to take control of...
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Champions League, NEWS, Victor Osimhen

Osimhen double helps Napoli see off Frankfurt

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy.Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a comfortable win over Eintracht Frankfurt. With Luciano Spalletti’s side two goals up from the first leg, the Nigeria striker’s thumping header in first-half stoppage time dispelled any lingering nerves at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Osimhen doubled the Italians’ lead on the night with a close-range finish from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross eight minutes after the break and, having been brought down in the box, Piotr Zielinski ...
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