2023 – Page 59 – Football Flame

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Vlahovic inspires Juventus to 3-0 win at Salernitana

Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring third goal during the Serie A match between US Salernitana and Juventus FC at Stadio Arechi, Salerno, Italy on 7 February 2023. Dusan Vlahovic proved he is back on form with two goals and an assist to help Juventus win 3-0 at Salernitana in Serie A on Tuesday. That snapped a run of three league matches without a win for Juventus. The streak had left the Bianconeri just nine points above the relegation zone coming into the match at Salerno following a 15-point penalty for false accounting. It also meant the match was a surprise relegation battle with Salernitana just two points further back. But Vlahovic helped Juventus push away from the bottom three. He scored his first goal for the club since October in the 26th minute with...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Lionel Messi, NEWS, PSG

Messi and PSG face potentially season-defining week

Lionel Messi of PSG celebrates his goal with teammates during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Toulouse FC (TFC, Tefece) at Parc des Princes stadium on February 4, 2023 in Paris, France. A French Cup trip to bitter rivals Marseille on Wednesday is the start of seven days that could define this season for Paris Saint-Germain, with a Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich approaching. The Bundesliga giants visit the French capital for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next Tuesday, but there will be no easy build-up to that game for PSG. Marseille await them in the bear pit of the Velodrome for a French Cup last-16 tie as the Parisians aim to reclaim a trophy they missed out on last season after winning it six times in the previous seven...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BARCELONA FC, LALIGA, Sergio Busquets

Busquets leaning towards staying at Barcelona – report

Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona v Getafe CF at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on January 22nd, 2023. Sergio Busquets’s future at Barcelona remains the subject of much speculation but the latest update reckons the captain is leading towards staying for another season. Sport are reporting that Busquets had considered a move but is feeling a lot happier about life at Barcelona after an upturn in form in recent months. Xavi’s switch to using four midfielders also appears to have helped out Busquets and is making the skipper feel more comfortable in the starting XI. Busquets is thought to have offers on the table from clubs in Saudi Arabia and the United States but could now stay for one more season on a reduced wag...

8Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Manchester City, PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City face uncertain future after PL charges

Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Manchester City were the ultra-rich “noisy neighbours” who became the Premier League’s dominant force. But they now face an uncertain future that includes the ultimate threat of relegation. Abu Dhabi-backed City were charged by the English top flight on Monday with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18, and referred to an independent commission. The reigning champions have also been accused of failing to cooperate with investigations by the Premier League. The club faces a range of possible punishments, including a reprimand, points deduction or even expulsion from th...

6Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BARCELONA FC, Gavi, LALIGA, Sevilla

Barcelona go eight points clear by beating Sevilla

Gavi of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-0 with Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona, Andreas Christensen of FC Barcelona, Pedri Gonzalez of FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Sevilla at the Spotify Camp Nou on February 5, 2023 in Barcelona Spain.Barcelona moved eight points clear at the top of La Liga as a clinical second-half performance helped them to a routine victory against Sevilla. After an uneventful first half the hosts took the lead through Jordi Alba’s 58th-minute side-footed finish. Gavi tapped home Raphinha’s cross to double the lead after 71 minutes and the Brazil winger rounded off the scoring by poking in Alba’s cross. Defeat leaves Sevilla 16th, just two po...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BAYERN MUNICH, BUNDESLIGA, Kingsley Coman

Kimmich off but Bayern beat Wolfsburg to go top

Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern München celebrates his goal with team mates during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München at Volkswagen Arena on February 5, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany.Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga table with a comfortable win at Wolfsburg despite playing for more than 30 minutes with 10 men. Kingsley Coman scored twice inside the first 14 minutes and Thomas Muller headed in a third soon after. Jakub Kaminski pulled a goal back just before half-time and Joshua Kimmich was then sent off in the 54th minute. But Jamal Musiala added a fourth for Bayern before Mattias Svanberg netted a late second for Wolfsburg. Kimmich was shown a red card for catching Maximilian Arnold but the champions shrugged off his dismissal as they rallied to e...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Harry Kane, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s Kane sinks Man City with landmark goal

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with Hugo Lloris after becoming the club record goal scorer the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 5, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.Harry Kane became Tottenham’s all-time record scorer, surpassing the great Jimmy Greaves, as his 267th goal for the club dented Manchester City’s title ambitions at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The England captain reached the landmark with a composed finish from 10 yards out after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did exceptionally well to find Kane inside the box. Fans jumped from their seats to applaud the 29-year-old striker, whose first Spurs goal came on 15 December 2011, while a message flashed up on the scoreboard inside the ground which read...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA, Mallorca, Real Madrid

Mallorca 1-0 Real Madrid: Nacho own goal condemns defending champions to a shock defeat

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez, Daniel Rodriguez of Real Mallorca, Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid, Antonio Raillo of Real Mallorca, Rodrygo Silva de Goes of Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid argument during the La Liga Santander match between Real Mallorca v Real Madrid at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on February 5, 2023 in Palma de Mallorca Spain.Problems mounted up for Real Madrid just two weeks before they face Liverpool in the Champions League as they went down 1-0 away at Mallorca. The defeat hits their chances of catching leaders Barcelona but there was bad news beyond the result with Thibaut Courtois missing the game after injuring his abductor muscle in the warm-up. They were already without Eder Militao and Karim Benzema and it was ...

5Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1, Lionel Messi, NEWS, PSG

Lionel Messi hits winner as PSG come from behind to beat toulouse

Lionel Messi of PSG, Junya Ito of Reims (left) during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade de Reims at Parc des Princes stadium on January 29, 2023 in Paris, France.Lionel Messi scored a superb second-half winner as a Paris Saint-Germain side missing the injured Kylian Mbappe and Neymar came from behind to beat Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday and consolidate their lead at the top of Ligue 1. Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen gave mid-table Toulouse the lead at the Parc des Princes from a 20th-minute free-kick, only for Achraf Hakimi to curl in the equaliser with half-time approaching. Messi then put PSG in front just before the hour mark with a glorious first-time strike on his left foot low into the corner of the net from just outside the area. It was Mess...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Borussia Dortmund, BUNDESLIGA, Sebastien Haller

Dortmund hail Haller’s first goal after cancer fight

Borussia Dortmund celebrates the goal of Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund (m) during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on February 4, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. Sebastien Haller has scored his first Bundesliga goal since a return from testicular cancer in Borussia Dortmund’s 5-1 rout of Freiburg while Union Berlin returned to the top of the table for at least 24 hours by edging Mainz 2-1. Kevin Behrens and Jordan Siebatcheu were on target on Saturday as Union dethroned 10-time reigning champions Bayern Munich who visit Wolfsburg on Sunday in search of their first league win of the year after three 1-1 draws. Haller, who had missed the first part of the season after undergoing two operations and chemotherapy, headed Dortmund’s thir...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Atletico Madrid, Enes Unal, Getafe, LALIGA

Atletico Madrid held to 1-1 draw against Getafe

(L-R) Stefan Savic of Atletico Madrid, Enes Unal of Getafe CF during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v Getafe at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on February 4, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Atletico Madrid dominated the game but were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday by LaLiga’s second-from-bottom side Getafe who equalized late in the second half thanks to an Enes Unal penalty. Atletico missed several chances to take an early lead, eventually scoring in the 60th minute when Angel Correa fired a volley into the net from a rebound. But Getafe secured a precious point away from home in the 83rd minute after the referee spotted a handball by Saul Niguez inside the box. Unal stepped up and blasted in the resulting penalty. Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings on 35 points, four...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Wolverhampton

Twelve minutes of misery as Liverpool misfire again

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool looks dejected alongside assistant Peter Krawietz during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on February 4, 2023 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. As Wolverhampton Wanderers closed out the final few minutes of Saturday’s hugely impressive dismantling of Liverpool, their fans responded to a lengthy spell of passing with chants of “ole”. In recent seasons, that is something Reds fans were often able to inflict on their opponents – but those days feel like a long time ago as a season of disappointment continues. If a 3-0 loss at Brighton last month felt like a significant low, then this 3-0 defeat at Molineux was arguably worse. After all, the Seagulls are chasing a top-seven finish while Wolves started S...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

ARSENAL FC, EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Sean Dyche

Everton stun Arsenal in Dyche’s first game as boss

James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on February 04, 2023 in Liverpool, England.New manager Sean Dyche enjoyed a dream start as a much-improved Everton side stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal at a raucous Goodison Park. Dyche was appointed last Monday following the departure of Frank Lampard, who was sacked with the team in the relegation zone. And the hosts picked up their first victory in 11 games in all competitions courtesy of a link-up between two men who played for Dyche at Burnley. Centre-half James Tarkowski rose at the far post to power home a header from Dwight McNeil’s corner to spark the sort of joyous scenes that have been witnessed rarely at Goodison thi...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Athletic Bilbao, Cadiz FC, LALIGA, Ohian Sancet

Athletic Club seal first La Liga win of 2023 against Cadiz

Oihan Sancet of Athletic Club compete for the ball with Gonzalo Escalante of Cadiz CF during the La Liga Santander match between Athletic Club and Cadiz CF at San Mames on February 3, 2023, in Bilbao, Spain.Athletic Club picked up their first La Liga win of 2023, thanks to a hat trick from Ohian Sancet, in routine 4-1 victory over Cadiz. The Basque giants have struggled for positivity either side of the World Cup break, with their last three points in league action coming on November 8. Progress to the Copa del Rey semi finals has not been matched on the league front but they cruised to victory in Bilbao. The home side got the ball rolling early on, via Sancet’s powerful deflected opener, before Gonzalo Escalante quickly produced a close range equaliser. However, the parity was broken befo...

4Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

CHELSEA FC, Enzo Fernandez, PREMIER LEAGUE

Fernandez makes debut as Chelsea held by Fulham

Thiago Silva and Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea embrace after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on February 03, 2023 in London, England.British record signing Enzo Fernandez made his Chelsea debut but could not help his new side claim only their second win of 2023 as they were held by Fulham at Stamford Bridge. Argentina midfielder Fernandez completed a £107m move to the Blues from Benfica three days ago and Graham Potter opted to hand him an immediate start. He made a solid impression and almost enjoyed a dream debut when his curled effort flew just wide of the post in the second half. Kai Havertz also went close before the break when his lobbed effort from Hakim Ziyech’s superb pass clipped the woodwork before the ball was cleared off the line, while...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Karim Benzema, LALIGA, Real Madrid

Karim Benzema joins growing injury list for Real Madrid

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid disappointed during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain.In last night’s fixture against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu, two quick assists from Karim Benzema for Marco Asensio (52′) and Vinicius Junior (54′) were enough to beat the visitors as Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga. Just six minutes after the second goal, however, an injured Benzema begrudgingly left the field with a thigh problem. He now joins David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Lucas Vazquez on Real Madrid’s injury list. A scoreless draw against high flyers Real Sociedad on Sunday meant that the current La Liga champions had dropped two valuable points in the league. After Robert Lewan...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

ARSENAL FC, Mikel Arteta, PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta named Premier League Manager of the Month for January

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta receives the Premier League January Manager Of The Month award at London Colney on February 03, 2023 in St Albans, England.Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has been named the Premier League Manager of the Month for January. The 40-year-old led his side to two victories and a draw from meetings with Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to maintain their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. The Gunners were held to a goalless stalemate with Newcastle in their opening fixture of 2023, prior to back-to-back wins over fellow top-four hopefuls Tottenham and Man United later in January. Hugo Lloris’s own goal and Martin Odegaard’s strike saw Arsenal ease to a 2-0 win over Spurs in the North London derby, before Man United were on the wrong end...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

EVERTON FC, PREMIER LEAGUE, Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche: Not everyone wanted me at Everton

New Everton Manager Sean Dyche (R) and Steve Stone (L) watch Alex Iwobi Neal Maupay and Ruben Vinagre during the Everton training session at Finch Farm on January 30, 2023 in Halewood, England. New Everton manager Sean Dyche admits he probably would not have got the job had the club not been facing a second successive relegation battle. The former Burnley boss takes over with Everton off the bottom of the Premier League only on goal difference after nine defeats in their last 12 matches, and his first game is against leaders Arsenal on Saturday. He was not owner Farhad Moshiri’s first choice with the billionaire owner wanting ex-Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa to replace the sacked Frank Lampard, only for negotiations to break down over the Argentinian’s terms. Dyche, fired last April af...

3Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA, Marco Asensio, Real Madrid

Real Madrid beat Valencia to close gap to Barcelona

Marco Asensio of Real Madrid celebrates 1-0 with Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 2, 2023 in Madrid Spain.Real Madrid beat 10-man Valencia to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points. Los Blancos took the lead through a stunning left-footed strike from Marco Asensio in the 52nd minute. Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr celebrated his 200th Real appearance with his side’s second goal two minutes later. Gabriel Paulista was shown a straight red card for the visitors in the 72nd minute for kicking out at Vinicius. Antonio Rudiger thought he had opened the scoring for the hosts in firs...

2Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Anthony Martial, EFL, Manchester United, NEWS

Man Utd to play Newcastle in EFL Cup final

Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the Carabao Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on February 1, 2023 in Manchester, England.Manchester United eased through their EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Nottingham Forest to book a 1999 Wembley rematch with Newcastle. Second-half goals from Anthony Martial and Fred ensured victory on the night for Erik ten Hag’s side, even though a place in the final was virtually secure anyway thanks to their 3-0 first-leg triumph at the City Ground. Martial marked his return from a four-match injury absence by driving home his sixth goal of the season, after a pass intended for Marcus Rashford deflected back to the French striker 17 minutes from ti...