March 2024 – Page 13 – Football Flame

9Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Bayern boss Tuchel refuses to give up on title despite 10-point gap

Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of FC Bayern München looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between FC Bayern München and SS Lazio at Allianz Arena on March 05, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has refused to give up on the Bundesliga title race despite Bayer Leverkusen having a 10-point gap over them.Bayern have 54 points in their bag at the moment, with 10 games remaining. While Leverkusen have been unbeaten throughout the campaign, Tuchel has refused to just hand over the title to them.Speaking ahead of the Mainz clash, as quoted by Reuters, Tuchel said that they need to keep winning even if things aren't essentially in their hands at the end of the day.The Bayern boss said that his side will be looking to be more s...

9Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A: Napoli held by Torino ahead of Barcelona decider

Antonio Sanabria of Torino F.C. is scoring the equalizing goal to make it 1-1 during the 28th day of the Serie A Championship between S.S.C Napoli and Torino F.C., in Naples, Italy, on March 8, 2024, at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Napoli were held to a 1-1 home draw by Torino in Serie A on Friday as the champions' revival stalled ahead of a Champions League showdown at Barcelona. Antonio Sanabria's acrobatic overhead kick in the 64th minute gave Torino a point at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and damaged Napoli's bid for European football next season. Sanabria netted his third goal of the season three minutes after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had put Napoli ahead as Francesco Calzona's side stay seventh.Napoli are two points behind Atalanta who are in the Europa Confer...

9Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Xavi hails Cubarsi and Yamal after Mallorca win

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Cyle Larin of RCD Mallorca during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on March 08, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona coach Xavi was full of praise for teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi after Friday’s 1-0 win over Mallorca.The two youngsters were once again the pick of the bunch at Montjuic, something Xavi was happy to talk about after the match.“Cubarsi’s very intelligent, he knows when to go into duels, he didn’t miss any of them. Lamine made the difference with the goal, but Pau plays with pause, with the right quality, he’s always finding the right man, it doesn’t seem like he’s 17.”Xavi then went on to speak about the match and was happy to see his sid...

9Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Leeds United maintain Premier League push amid drama

Patrick Bamford of Leeds United is challenged by Bambo Diaby of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough on March 08, 2024 in Sheffield, England. Leeds United have climbed back into the automatic promotion places after winning 2-0 at Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.Patrick Bamford struck in first-half stoppage time and Willy Gnonto added a second after the break as Leeds extended their unbeaten league run in 2024 to 12 matches.Daniel Farke's side are two points behind Championship leaders Leicester after leap-frogging Ipswich, with their promotion rivals, including Southampton, due to play on Saturday.Wednesday missed the chance to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since August, hav...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Erik ten Hag confirms Man Utd have suffered fresh injury ahead of Everton

Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Manchester, England. Erik ten Hag has given a detailed injury update ahead of the Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday.Manchester United were without eight players for last week's Manchester derby, while Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans had to be replaced with knocks in the second half. While Ten Hag confirmed the duo will be available for the weekend, there was an update on a fresh injury ahead of the the Everton clash."That’s the good the news, they [Evans and Rashford] recovered after the derby and they are available. For the rest, it’s the same squad [against Everton] apart from Omari Forson. He d...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Report: Harry Kane unlikely to return to Premier League this summer

Harry Kane of Bayern Munchen during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between FC Bayern München and SS Lazio at Fussball Arena Munchen on March 05, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane is reportedly unlikely to return to the Premier League during this summer's transfer window despite the recent speculation.The 30-year-old left Tottenham Hotspur last summer to move to Bayern, with the England captain looking to win trophies at this stage of his career.Thomas Tuchel's side have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but they are currently second in the Bundesliga table, 10 points behind the leaders Bayer Leverkusen.Kane has been in impressive form for Bayern this season, scoring 33 goals and registering nine assist...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

UEFA president Ceferin defends Gravina after dossier scandal

Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA gestures after the UEFA Women's Nations League 2024 Final match between Spain and France at Estadio La Cartuja on February 28, 2024 in Seville, Spain. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin defends Gabriele Gravina and offers the FIGC President ‘complete support’ after his involvement in a dossier scandal.Gravina has been formally investigated by the Rome Prosecutor in a case linked to a second investigation conducted by Perugia authorities. The Perugia case concerns 16 other people accused of obtaining private information about VIPs and Italian politicians through various platforms, including a database of the National Anti-Mafia Directorate.Information about Gravina was also leaked, so the FIGC President asked to be investigated on Wednesday in...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi rally Inter Miami for a 2-2 tie with Nashville

Nashville SC forward Teal Bunbury (12) makes a pass between Inter Miami midfielder David Ruiz (41) and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) during a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of Sixteen first leg match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami, March 7, 2024, at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.Luis Suárez scored in stoppage time and Lionel Messi also scored after halftime to help Inter Miami tie Nashville 2-2 Thursday night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.The teams will meet Wednesday night in Florida in the second leg of the home-and-home, total-goals series in the round of 16.Suárez tied it up scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a header off a cross from former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Messi got Inter Miami on the board with his first CONCACAF goal in the 52nd m...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Uncategorized

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp issues Darwin Nunez warning ahead of Man City showdown

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool is embraced by Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, after being substituted during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Letna Stadium on March 07, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic.Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool's rivals that in-form forward Darwin Nunez can get even better. The Uruguayan, who starred in Thursday's Europa League win over Sparta Prague, will be one of the Reds' key attacking assets when they host Manchester City in a high-stakes Premier League battle on Sunday.Nunez had to deal with being taken off penalty duties early on in the Czech capital, as Alexis Mac Allister won and took the spot-kick which opened the scoring for Liverpool in a resounding 5-1 win.He brushed that off with...

8Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Romelu Lukaku drops hint over his Chelsea future after Roma thrash Brighton

Romelu Lukaku of Roma is celebrating after scoring their second goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between AS Roma and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on March 7, 2024. Romelu Lukaku is loving life at Roma, but stopped short of saying he wanted to leave Chelsea permanently for the Italian club.His comments came after Roma thrashed Brighton in the first-leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday evening.Goals from Paulo Dybala, Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante at the Stadio Olimpico appear to have all but ended the Seagulls’ European adventure.The Belgium striker is on loan at Roma from Chelsea having failed to secure a permanent exit from Stamford Bridge last summer, after moves to Inter Milan and ...

7Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Unai Emery relieved to survive scare as Aston Villa draw blank at Ajax

Head coach Unai Emery of Aston Villa and Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AFC Ajax and Aston Villa at Johan Cruijff Arena on March 7, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.Aston Villa boss Unai Emery knows his side survived a scare in their goalless draw at Ajax in their last-16 Europa Conference League first-leg tie.Villa were second best throughout the night at the Johan Cruijff ArenA but the Dutch giants, led by England international Jordan Henderson, could not make their advantage count as it ended 0-0.But Emery’s men will now be confident of winning next week’s second leg at Villa Park, where they are so strong, and booking their spot in the quarter-finals.“It is always difficult to play away in Europe, ...

7Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pochettino says he understands anger from Chelsea fans

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Chelsea controls the ball during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Chelsea FC at Brentford Community Stadium on March 02, 2024 in Brentford, England.Mauricio Pochettino admitted he might "behave the same" as frustrated Chelsea fans after they called for his sacking during last week's draw against Brentford.The London club are 11th in the Premier League during a miserable first season at the helm for the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss, who is yet to win silverware in England.The Argentine, who is preparing his injury-hit squad to face Newcastle on Monday, said he needed to "accept the criticism"."We need to try to improve in the way we play and the result and try to change this feeling," he said at his pre-match press conference...

7Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona captain names the trophy he dreams of winning this season

Xavi Hernandez head coach of Barcelona gives instructions to Ronald Araujo centre-back of Barcelona and Uruguay during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona at Estadio de San Mames on March 3, 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. The FC Barcelona defender and captain Ronald Araujo has been in the news for different reasons for the last few months, primarily because of his links with Bayern Munich, but he was in the highlights last night for a very different reason.This is because the presentation of his documentary “Origins”, which is set to be released in April for Barca One, was held last night, and the event was attended by several people associated with the Catalan club, including the President, Joan Laporta.As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Araujo also talked...

7Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Man City star suffers gruesome finger injury during Champions League win over Copenhagen

Matheus Nunes of Manchester City leaves the pitch injured during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Manchester City and F.C. Copenhagen at Etihad Stadium on March 06, 2024 in Manchester, England. Manchester City star Matheus Nunes suffered a gruesome finger injury during their otherwise comfortable Champions League victory over Copenhagen.Having won the first leg 3-1 in Denmark, Pep Guardiola's side breezed through to the quarter-finals thanks to another emphatic win by the same scoreline, this time courtesy of goals from Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland. Nunes was handed his third start in City's last four games by Guardiola, having had to be patient since his £53million transfer move from Wolves last summer.Midway through the...

6Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Ancelotti: “Real Madrid played with the brakes on against Leipzig”

coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid v RB Leipzig at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 6, 2024 in Madrid Spain.After Real Madrid edged through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League by beating RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate with a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night, Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media. “The game was bad. Poorly played. With little intensity, with little concern,” he reflected. “The psychological aspect has conditioned a lot. We played against a rival with quality and with nothing to lose. And we played with the brake from the beginning. We suffered, but the important thing was to be in the quarter-finals.”Ancelotti on half-time changes“Yes, the idea was to press more. With me...

6Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

French winger Mathys Tel signs 5-year contract extension with Bayern Munich

Mathys Tel of FC Bayern München reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between FC Bayern München and SS Lazio at Allianz Arena on March 05, 2024 in Munich, Germany. Mathys Tel signed a contract extension Wednesday with Bayern Munich until end of the June 2029. "This contract extension means a lot to me. I've already learnt a lot at Bayern, both on and off the pitch. Munich has become a home for me and my family, and the fans are also very important to me," Tel said after the signing."I can't be the player I am without them. When you play for Bayern, you always want to win every trophy. I want to score and set up goals, play with heart and energy for Bayern, and give everything for this club and its fans,” he added.Tel, who moved to Baye...

6Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Kane steers Bayern into Champions League quarterfinals with two goals in win over Lazio

Harry Kane of Bayern Muenchen celebrates his team's third goal wit teammate Jamal Musiala of Bayern Muenchen during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between FC Bayern München and SS Lazio at Allianz Arena on March 5, 2024 in Munich, Germany.Harry Kane scored twice to steer Bayern Munich into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Lazio on Tuesday.Kane’s 32nd and 33rd goals this season for Bayern ensured the Bavarian powerhouse recovered from losing the first leg of the last 16 tie 1-0 in Rome to win 3-1 on aggregate over two legs.“A perfect night for us,” said Kane, the man of the match.The win will ease the pressure on Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, whose premature departure at the end of the season was announced by Bayern after the team's...

5Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Erling Haaland hints at Real Madrid move by refusing to rule out Man City exit

Erling Haaland of Manchester City faces the media during a press conference at Manchester City Football Academy on March 05, 2024 in Manchester, England. Erling Haaland has refused to close the door on a move to Real Madrid in the future despite insisting he is “really happy” at Manchester City.Real are expected to sign France striker Kylian Mbappé on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer but are long-term admirers of Haaland.City beat the Madrid giants to sign the Norwegian goal machine from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million in June 2022 but Real’s interest has never gone away.Asked about the links with Real and whether he felt he had everything he needed at City to remain at the club in the longer-term in the build-up to their Champions League clash against Cope...

5Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal secure historic 6-0 Premier League win over Sheffield United

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on March 4, 2024 in Sheffield, England.Arsenal secured a sensational 6-0 victory against Sheffield United, marking their seventh consecutive Premier League win and propelling them within two points of league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners made history by becoming the first English side to achieve three consecutive away wins with a margin of five or more goals. Manager Mikel Arteta's squad showcased their relentless attacking ability, with six different scorers contributing to the formidable win.With his goal in the fifth minute, captain Martin Odegaard set the tone early. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Jayd...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool get Xabi Alonso boost as Bayern Munich switch targets for next manager

Xabi Alonso, Manager of Bayer Leverkusen, reacts during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at RheinEnergieStadion on March 03, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. Bayern Munich be set to turn their attention away from Xabi Alonso in their search for a new manager.The Bavarians are seeking a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who they have confirmed will leave the club at the end of the season, and Alonso has been heavily linked with a switch after taking his Bayer Leverkusen side 10 points clear of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga.Liverpool are also considering a move for their former player to replace Jurgen Klopp when he departs the club after nine years, but Bayern could now instead move for Feyenoord's Arne Slot as their next manager. The 45-year-old has im...