February 2024 – Football Flame

29Feb

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Wolves set up FA Cup quarter-final clash against Coventry after holding off Brighton

Mario Lemina of Wolverhampton Wanderers is challenged by Igor Julio of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux on February 28, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. Wolverhampton Wanderers will play Coventry City in the FA Cup quarter-finals after a narrow 1-0 victory against fellow Premier League team Brighton.Mario Lemina struck early for Wolves at Molineux, giving the hosts the lead in the second minute.The goal was largely the result of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s lung-busting run down the left wing, with his resulting cross spilled by Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.Villa beat Forest to tighten grip on top four as Glasner's Palace overcome BurnleyVilla beat Forest to tighten g...

28Feb

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola praises Erling Haaland’s talent after five-goal haul against Luton

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, congratulates Erling Haaland of Manchester City after he is substituted during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Luton Town and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road on February 27, 2024 in Luton, England. Pep Guardiola described Erling Haaland's goal tally as "unbelievable", after the Manchester City striker scored five against Luton in the FA Cup.The 23-year-old took his total for the season in all competitions to 27 as he combined with the excellent Kevin De Bruyne to deliver a goalscoring masterclass in the 6-2 victory at Kenilworth Road.It came less than four weeks after his return to the side following nearly two months out with a foot injury, and took his total since joining City in the summer of 2022 to 79 in 83 appeara...

28Feb

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TRANSFERS

Xabi Alonso ‘not interested in move to Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid’ this summer

Head coach Xabi Alonso of Leverkusen looks on prior the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at BayArena on February 23, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. Xabi Alonso is “not interested” in joining Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid this summer as he looks to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, according to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus.Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager after Jurgen Klopp announced last month that he will be leaving at the end of the season to take a break from football.And Bayern Munich are in a similar position with a poor run of form seeing current boss Thomas Tuchel mutually agree to leave the Allianz Arena in the summer.Former Liverpool and Bayern midfielder Alonso is understood to be the early frontrunner for both those jobs...

27Feb

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NEWS

FA Cup: Haaland scores five as Man City thrash Luton

Joe Johnson of Luton Town and Erling Haaland of Manchester City battle for possession during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Luton Town and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road on February 27, 2024 in Luton, England. Erling Haaland scored five in a stunning display of finishing as holders Manchester City thrashed Luton to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.It was the Norwegian's eighth hat-trick for City and he also became the first player to score five in a game twice for the club.City opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Kevin de Bruyne, who assisted the first four goals, was allowed time and space to cut the ball back for Haaland to convert.The pair combined again 15 minutes later, with Haaland running on to a through ball before powering it past Luton goalke...

27Feb

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NEWS

Newcastle edge past gutsy Blackburn on penalties to reach FA Cup quarter-finals

Martin Dubravka of Newcastle United celebrates following the team's victory in the penalty shoot out in the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United at Ewood Park on February 27, 2024 in Blackburn, England.Martin Dubravka saved twice as Newcastle beat Blackburn 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a compelling FA Cup fifth-round tie at Ewood Park on Tuesday.The Newcastle goalkeeper denied Sammie Szmodics and Dom Hyam from the spot to secure a nervy victory after the Premier League outfit were taken all the way by the side 16th in the Sky Bet Championship.Blackburn had enjoyed the upper hand for large spells of the game, but fell behind when Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock after 71 minutes.Rovers hit back and forced extra time with an equaliser...

27Feb

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SERIE A

Paulo Dybala scores first hat trick for Roma in win over Torino

Paulo Dybala of AS Roma celebrates with Daniele De Rossi head coach of AS Roma after scoring goal 2-1 during the Serie A TIM match between AS Roma and Torino FC at Stadio Olimpico on February 26, 2024 in Rome, Italy.Paulo Dybala scored his first hat trick for Roma as the home side beat Torino 3-2 in Serie A on Monday. On a day that Chris Smalling started for Roma for the first time since September, Dybala took all the plaudits.It was Dybala's first club hat trick since October 2018, when he was with Juventus. Roma stayed sixth, while Fiorentina rose to seventh after beating Lazio 2-1. Lazio dropped to eighth, and Torino remained 10th.Dybala got the opener from the penalty spot three minutes before halftime and Duvan Zapata equalized for the visitors two minutes later when he headed h...

27Feb

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LALIGA

Savio quick-fire double takes Girona back second with win over 10-man Rayo

Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano is challenged by Savio Moreira of Girona FC during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Girona FC and Rayo Vallecano at Montilivi Stadium on February 26, 2024 in Girona, Spain.Brazilian winger Savio scored a five-minute double as surprise packages Girona beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 to return to second place in the La Liga table. Savio helped the Catalans to move above Barcelona and to within six points of leaders Real Madrid with 12 rounds of the season to play. "There is still a lot to do, but the team needed to win after three games without a win," Girona coach Michel said. "Today was difficult. The 3-0 score is not what we saw on the field, everything was more even," he added.Rayo remain 14th in the Spanish top-flight, seven points off the relegatio...

27Feb

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Jarrod Bowen hits treble as West Ham sink Brentford to end barren run

Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brentford FC at London Stadium on February 26, 2024 in London, England.Jarrod Bowen ended his goal drought with a hat-trick as West Ham beat struggling Brentford 4-2 to secure their first win in nine games on Monday. Bowen hadn’t scored in the Premier League since December 23, but the England forward got back on track with a stylish treble at the London Stadium. The 27-year-old struck twice in the first seven minutes before Neal Maupay got one back for Brentford in a frantic opening 13 minutes. Bowen completed the first hat-trick of his career after the interval before Emerson’s superb long-range blast made it four. Yoane Wissa reduced the deficit late on, but Dav...

26Feb

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LALIGA

Modric stunner helps Real Madrid extend lead at LaLiga

Luka Modric of Real Madrid passes the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 25, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric came off the bench to net a stunning strike from the edge of the box late in the second half to secure a 1-0 home win over Sevilla on Sunday, stretching their lead at the top of LaLiga to eight points ahead of Barcelona, followed by Girona who have a game in hand. It was a compelling encounter with Real, who dominated possession in the first half, having an early Lucas Vazquez effort ruled out by video assistant referee (VAR) for a foul in the build-up. But they were often exposed on the counter and Andriy Lunin had to save several times, using his feet as a s...

26Feb

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SERIE A

Allegri makes history with over 1,000 Serie A points

Massimiliano Allegri Head coach of Juventus reacts during the Serie A TIM match between Juventus and Frosinone Calcio at on February 25, 2024 in Turin, Italy.Max Allegri made history by becoming the first ever coach to achieve 1,000 Serie A points in his career, thanks to a last-gasp Juventus winner over Frosinone.The Bianconeri were in crisis after just two points from four rounds and it seemed to be another off day at the Allianz Juventus Stadium when Frosinone came back to lead 2-1 through Walid Cheddira and Marco Brescianini before half-time.Dusan Vlahovic completed his brace for 2-2, but Daniele Rugani pounced from the tightest of angles on a corner at the 95th minute to secure a precious victory.It took his tally to 1,002 ‘real points’ – so two for a win before the 1994-95 seas...