March 2024 – Page 14 – Football Flame

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe tension overshadows PSG’s crunch Champions League date

Kylian Mbappe looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Campus PSG on March 03, 2024 in Paris, France.PSG have suffered numerous humiliating defeats at this stage of the Champions League in recent years but they are ideally placed to advance to the quarter-finals this time after winning 2-0 at home to the Basque side in last month's first leg.Mbappe scored the opening goal in that game but the following day the superstar striker informed PSG of his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.Luis Enrique might have been expected to make the most of being able to call on Mbappe until then, but instead he has made a point of reducing his top scorer's playing time.Mbappe was left on the bench for PSG's next game at Nantes, although he came on ...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

‘Best in Premier League’ – Pep Guardiola talks up Phil Foden’s impact on Man City

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 3, 2024 in Manchester, England.Pep Guardiola praised fantastic Phil Foden and said the Manchester City midfielder is developing into a world-class player - the current best in the Premier League - after his wonderful, derby-winning display against Manchester United.Nobody expected anything other than embarrassment at the Etihad Stadium for Erik ten Hag’s stumbling Red Devils, yet Marcus Rashford’s scorcher gave them a shock half-time lead.United were under the cosh for large periods before and after the break, finally buckling as 23-year-old Foden scored a superb leveller in the 56th minute before then firing ...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Record-setting Brest consolidate second spot in Ligue 1, Nice slip up

Brest's French midfielder #20 Pierre Lees-Melou (L) fights for the ball with Le Havre's French midfielder #94 Abdoulaye Toure during the French L1 football match between Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) and Le Havre AC at Stade Francis-Le Ble in Brest, western France on March 3, 2024. A goal just after the half-hour from Pierre Lees-Melou gave Brest victory to close the gap to PSG to nine points and seal a club record 13 top-flight matches without defeat."Very satisfied. We've got a bit of a lead on points, it's good to get them now," said Brest coach Eric Roy."I'm proud and happy for our team, who have made history by going 13 games unbeaten."The win gives Brest a four-point cushion over third-placed Monaco, who played out a goalless draw with PSG on Friday.Midfielder Lees-Melou slott...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Napoli rediscover title-winning form, beat Juventus 2-1

Giacomo Raspadori of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his goal during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 3, 2024 in Naples, Italy. Ten months and three coaches later, Napoli may finally have rediscovered the form that took them to last season's Serie A title.The champions followed up their 6-1 thrashing of Sassuolo in midweek with a 2-1 victory over second-placed Juventus on Sunday.Giacomo Raspadori snatched a late winner at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, redirecting in the rebound of Victor Osimhen's 88th-minute penalty.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had put Napoli ahead late in the first half, before Federico Chiesa equalised with an angled shot with nine minutes remaining.Napoli are unbeaten since Francesco Calzona re...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Burnley’s survival hopes hit as Bournemouth win

Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and AFC Bournemouth at Turf Moor on March 3, 2024 in Burnley, England. Burnley's slim hopes of staying up suffered another setback as Bournemouth won in the Premier League for the first time in 2024.Justin Kluivert set the Cherries on their way with a powerful finish past James Trafford after poor defending.Burnley responded strongly with Neto producing an outstanding save to keep out Jacob Bruun Larsen's free-kick while Vitinho headed a good chance over the bar.Larsen also had a goalbound shot blocked by Adam Smith after Neto denied David Datro Fofana.Josh Cullen's disallowed goal - ruled out for a foul in the build-up - only added to the sense of frustration ins...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Dortmund, Leipzig win as Champions League race tightens

(L.R:) Karim Adeyemi of BVB and Pavel Kaderabek of Hoffenheim battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on February 25, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.The Bundesliga race for Champions League places heated up on Saturday as Borussia Dortmund won 2-0 at Union Berlin to stay fourth and RB Leipzig beat Bochum 4-1 to keep pace a point behind. The unrelenting form of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and surprising Stuttgart, who won 3-2 at Wolfsburg in Saturday’s late match to solidify their grip on third, has left Champions League regulars Dortmund and Leipzig battling it out for fourth. Karim Adeyemi’s 41st minute goal, his first of the season, put Dortmund on course for victory before Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen added another i...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Fiorentina held by 10-man Torino in dent to their European hopes

Vanja Milinkovic Savic of Torino Fc looks dejected during the Serie A TIM match between Torino FC and ACF Fiorentina - Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 2, 2024 in Turin, Italy.Fiorentina were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Torino as their quest for Europe took a dent.The Viola, last season’s beaten UEFA Europa Conference League runners-up to West Ham, stay seventh with this result but edge a point closer to Bologna, Roma, and Atalanta who sit above them, with the latter three points clear of Vincenzo Italiano’s side.In a drab affair at the Olimpico Grande Torino, it was in fact the hosts, who are now 10th in the table, who came closest to breaking the deadlock, with Duvan Zapata seeing his strike chalked off five minutes before half-time.The Colombian fed off a long punt...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Bellingham sent off after full-time in Real draw

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid receives a red card from referee Jesus Gil Manzano during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Valencia v Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Valencia Spain.Jude Bellingham was sent off for complaining after the final whistle denied him a winning goal for Real Madrid in a dramatic game at Valencia.Vinicius Jr scored twice at the Mestalla, where he was the victim of racist abuse last season, as Real came from 2-0 behind to salvage a point and move seven points clear at the top of La Liga.Bellingham thought he had won the game six minutes into stoppage time when he headed in from close range, but referee Gil Manzano had blown the whistle to end the game before the cross had been delivered.Real players and staff surrounded Manzano, and Be...

3Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Werner praises support as first goal sparks Spurs win

Timo Werner of Tottenham Hotspur in action with Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 2, 2024 in London, England. Timo Werner praised the support of his team-mates after his first Tottenham goal sparked his side's comeback win over Crystal Palace.Werner, who was making his sixth appearance since joining on loan from RB Leipzig in January, scored Spurs' equaliser as the hosts scored three times in the final 13 minutes to win and boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.Werner had failed to convert a when played clean through in a forgettable first half and Spurs' woes deepened when Eberechi Eze opened the scoring with a 59th minute free-kick."They [his team-mates]...

2Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Bayern drop points again with draw at Freiburg

Harry Kane of FC Bayern München reacts during the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and FC Bayern München at Europa-Park Stadion on March 01, 2024 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.Bayern Munich could end the weekend 10 points off the top of the Bundesliga after dropping points against Freiburg.Christian Gunter fired the mid-table hosts into a lead with a fine 20-yard strike.Bayern thought they had turned it round through Mathys Tel's excellent curling effort and Jamal Musiala's placed shot after a solo run.But Lucas Holer struck an 87th-minute volley to snatch a point for the hosts."We played completely without structure," said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel on his side's first-half performance. "We were not disciplined. We were not in our positions, we lost possession going f...

2Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Mbappe replaced at half-time as PSG draw at Monaco

Kylian Mbappe of PSG, Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki in action during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between AS Monaco (ASM) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stade Louis II on March 1, 2024 in Monaco, Monaco.Kylian Mbappe was replaced at half-time and watched the second half with his mother in the stands as Paris St-Germain drew at his former club Monaco.Mbappe, PSG's all-time top scorer with 244 goals, has agreed a deal to join Real Madrid at the end of the season.Boss Luis Enrique replaced him with Randal Kolo Muani at half-time."It was 100% the coach's decision, because sooner or later we will have to get used to playing without Kylian Mbappe," Luis Enrique said."I took this decision for the good of the team."Mbappe, 25, changed into a tracksuit and spoke on his phone in the tunn...

2Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Lazio finish with eight men in AC Milan defeat

Noah Okafor of AC Milan celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Serie A TIM match between SS Lazio and AC Milan - Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2024 in Rome, Italy. Lazio had three players sent off as they lost to AC Milan in Serie A.Luca Pellegrini was the first to see red after fouling Christian Pulisic to earn a second booking.Noah Okafor hit an 88th-minute winner for AC Milan from 16 yards after a double save from keeper Ivan Provedel.Lazio had two players shown straight red cards in added time, with Adam Marusic dismissed for an angry reaction to the referee and Matteo Guendouzi for shoving over Pulisic.Guendouzi was fouled by former Chelsea forward Pulisic and knocked the American to the ground in frustration to leave the hosts with eight me...

1Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr return to Valencia after racist abuse

Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga players of Real Madrid in training at Valdebebas training ground on February 28, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.Real Madrid head to Valencia on Saturday looking to strengthen their already solid grip atop the LaLiga table in the highly anticipated return of Carlo Ancelotti’s side to a stadium where Brazil winger Vinicius Jr was racially abused last year.It will be the first time Real and 23-year-old Vinicius have been back to Mestalla since May 2023, when racist slurs were allegedly hurled at the Brazilian, the 10th such episode against the player that LaLiga reported to prosecutors last season. The game was halted for 10 minutes as Vinicius pointed out fans who were abusing him before he was involved in an altercation with Valencia players that led ...

1Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Mallorca to face Athletic Bilbao in Spanish Cup final

Gorka Guruzeta of Athletic Club competes for the ball with Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg match between Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid at San Mames Stadium on February 29, 2024 in Bilbao, Spain.This season's Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) final has been set as Athletic Bilbao will play against Mallorca in April.Athletic Bilbao beat visitors Atletico Madrid 3-0 Thursday in the semifinal's second leg to win 4-0 on aggregate.Inaki Williams' volley gave the home team a 1-0 lead at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium.Nico, Inaki's brother, doubled the gap before the first half ended.Spanish forward Gorka Guruzeta scored after a rebound by the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 in the 61st minute.Athletic Bilbao secured the win to play Mallorca in the 2024 Copa d...