Blog – Page 409 – Football Flame

Blog

No Comments
LALIGA

OFFICIAL: La Liga postpone 2019-2020 season due to coronavirus

A view of the LaLiga logo at a roofop viewing party of El Clasico on 01 March 2020.It’s now official. La Liga announced this Thursday that the next two weeks of the 2019-2020 season have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in Spain. The suspension could go even further if needed.This decision was made after Real Madrid announced their quarantine following a basketball player testing positive for the virus a week after playing an Euro league game in Milan. The football and basketball teams use common facilities in Valdebebas.UEFA have not announced their decision about next week’s Champions League games and Real Madrid were set to face Manchester City in the return leg of the Round of 16. Considering that the whole squad is now in quarantine, it seems fairly obvious that UEF...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Jordan Henderson insists Liverpool will be inspired by pain from Atletico Madrid defeat as they push to win the Premier League title

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa (left) and Liverpool's Jordan Henderson battle for the ball Liverpool v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Anfield 11-03-2020 .Jordan Henderson said Liverpool will use the heartbreak from their Champions League exit as fuel for their first ever Premier League title.He said after the painful defeat: “Tonight and tomorrow it will not feel nice, but we've got to use it and finish the season well. “We've got the derby next, so that's what the focus needs to turn to very quickly.”Only weeks ago, Liverpool were fighting for a historic treble but following defeats against Chelsea in the FA Cup and now Atletico, a league title is the only trophy remaining for what would still be a remarkable season for the club.The league has el...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Juventus Player Tests positive for Coronavirus

Juventus player Daniele Rugani during a training session at JTC on March 10, 2020 in Turin, Italy.A player for Juventus, the Italian soccer champion, has tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the club announced Wednesday, a worrisome development for a sport — and a country — struggling to contain the outbreak.The player, the 25-year-old defender Daniele Rugani, is believed to be the first athlete in Italy’s top division to test positive. The team said in a statement that Rugani was “currently asymptomatic,” but that the club was following isolation procedures required by law for him and anyone who has had contact with him.Rugani is not the first player in Europe to test positive for the disease — a German team, Hannover 96, confirmed earlier on Wednesday ...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Coronavirus: NBA season suspended after player tests positive

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz reacts after dunking during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 06, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts.The NBA has put its season on hold after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19.Utah’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City was called off moments before tip-off due to the confirmation of the positive test.Jazz player Rudy Gobert is understood to be the player to have tested positive.The NBA announced it would suspend the season until further notice."The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice," the league said in a statement."The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic."It c...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

FIFA reschedules Congress due to virus outbreak

Gianni Infantino is elected FIFA President for the 2019-2023 term of office during the 69th FIFA Congress at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on June 5, 2019 in Paris, France.FIFA has pushed back its Congress to September from June due to the coronavirus outbreak, the world soccer body said on Wednesday. The 70th FIFA Congress will now be held on September 18 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The FIFA official statement reads: “On account of the spread of COVID-19, numerous international bodies and public health authorities have advised against the organisation of international events. Concerns over the health and well-being of participants, as well as travel restrictions in many countries, have resulted in the cancellation or postponement of many such events in various parts of the world.“Mindfu...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Chile to quarantine Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal

Chile's midfielder Arturo Vidal (R) and Chile's forward Alexis Sanchez smile during a training session at La Manga Club Football Centre in Cartagena on October 11, 2019 on the eve of the international friendly football match Chile vs Colombia.Chilean duo Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will be quarantined when they return to the country ahead of their World Cup qualifier at home to Colombia on April 1.Sanchez will be returning to Chile from Inter Milan where the situation with coronavirus is severe, while Barcelona midfielder Vidal will be travelling from Spain, where there is also a growing outbreak of the virus.Chile's health minister Jaime Manalich told reporters on Tuesday of the precautions that will be in place given the global outbreak of coronavirus.Chile are due to face Uruguay in...
Read More
No Comments
TRANSFERS

Man United Reportedly lead the race to sign 23-year-old Bundesliga star

Denis Zakaria of Borussia Moenchengladbach looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Borussia-Park on February 22, 2020 in Moenchengladbach, Germany.Manchester United are the frontrunners to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria, according to a report in England.Sky Sports in Germany, as quoted by The Daily Star, is reporting that Manchester United are interested in a swoop for the 23-year-old at the end of the season.The same article states that Zakaria has been attracting interest from some top European clubs following his excellent form for the Bundesliga outfit this term.According to the same story, Manchester United’s bitter rivals Liverpool FC are interested along with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Bundesli...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Josip Ilicic nets four as Atalanta reaches Champions league Quarters

Josip Ilicic of Atalanta scores his sides fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Valencia CF and Atalanta at Estadio Mestalla on March 10, 2020 in Valencia, Spain.Atalanta's Josip Ilicic scored four goals in a stunning individual display to lead them to a 4-3 Champions League round of 16, second-leg win over Valencia, that completed an 8-4 aggregate victory at an empty Mestalla on Tuesday.The Spanish side's stadium was shut to supporters as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, with the visitors coming from a high-risk zone in the north of Italy.Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby conceded two penalties in the first half, both converted by Ilicic, either side of Kevin Gameiro's equaliser.Gameiro headed home a second and Ferran Torres ...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Leipzig beats Tottenham to reach Champions League quarters

Patrick Schick of RB Leipzig, Angelino of RB Leipzig, Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig, Marcel Sabitzer of RB Leipzig, Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig, celebrates the 2-0 during the UEFA Champions League match between RB Leipzig v Tottenham Hotspur at the Red Bull Arena on March 10, 2020 in Leipzig Germany.RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer scored two early goals as they eased past last year's finalists Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday to reach their first quarter-finals by 4-0 on aggregate.Sabitzer fired the German side in front with a low shot from about 20 metres after 10 minutes and they never looked back, pinning the visitors, who were without injured strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, in their own half.Leipzig's captain was given far too much ...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool are ready for Atletico’s antics at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood training ground on March 10, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Liverpool FC will face Atletico Madrid in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match on March 11, 2020. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will warn his players again about Atletico Madrid’s gamesmanship, but admits this time he will not be forced into protecting them against red cards.In the first leg of their last-16 Champions League 1-0 defeat in the Wanda Metropolitano, Klopp substituted Sadio Mane as he feared he would be dismissed after being targeted by Atletico.The hosts generated contact with the Senegal international, already on a yellow card, tried to manufacture a foul and then wildly remonstrated with the Polish referee Szymon Ma...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

PSG's Champions League clash with Dortmund will be behind closed doors

Moenchengladbach's Swiss defender Nico Elvedi and Dortmund's Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Moenchengladbach v Borussia Dortmund in Moenchengladbach, western Germany on March 7, 2020.Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg meeting between PSG and Borussia Dortmund will be played behind closed doors in Paris, it was confirmed this morning.Due to an escalation of concern over the Coronavirus spread French authorities moved to ban gatherings of over 1,000 people over the weekend, a ruling that leaves sporting events in limbo.PSG will start 2-1 down and in front of an empty Parc de Princes. Their scheduled Ligue 1 match in Strasbourg yesterday was also postponed due to the spread of Covid-19.To...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Dybala sends Juventus top with behind-closed-doors win over Inter Milan

Paulo Dybala of Juventus scores the goal of of 2-0 during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium played behind closed doors after rules to limit the spread of Covid-19 have been put in place on March 8, 2020 in Turin, Italy.Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-0 to go back top of Serie A, one point ahead of Lazio, on Sunday night.The goals came from Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala.Juve now have 63 points to Lazio's 62.Inter are eight points behind Lazio on 54, with a game in hand."There's still a long way to go," said Bianconeri coach Maurizio Sarri after winning the so-called 'derby of Italy".The match was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus.On the possibility of Serie A being halted, Nerazzurri coach Antonio Conte said "I hope the best decisions ar...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Zidane takes blame for Real Madrid's defeat to Real Betis

Coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Betis Sevilla v Real Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 8, 2020 in Sevilla Spain.Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid's manager, took responsibility for 1-2 loss against Real Betis in the ongoing La Liga, and said that the team will fight till the end in the competition.In the match against Madrid, Betis opened the scoring with Sidnei getting a goal in the 40th minute of the match. However, Madrid got an equaliser before the half-time through Karim Benzema.In the second half, Christian Tello scored the match-winning goal in the 82nd minute for Betis."We didn't get anything, and I'm to blame for it. I have to look at what happened; we're going to fight the league to the end. I am with my players till ...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Boban sacked by AC Milan over spat with Gazidis

2019/09/26: Zvonimir Boban, Chief Football Officer of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A football match between Torino FC and AC Milan. Torino FC won 2-1 over AC Milan.AC Milan have officially announced on their website that Chief Football Officer Zvonimir Boban's contract has been terminated. The former Rossoneri No. 10 has been with the club just nine months after leaving his role as the Deputy Secretary General of FIFA. Boban was involved in a public spat with CEO Ivan Gazidis last week where he accused the latter of going behind the back of the technical directors to approach Ralf Rangnick thus undermining their roles as we reported here.The club statement notably read, “The Club will keep supporting Stefano Pioli and his first team in all areas and is optimistic looking ahead to ...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool set English record after beating Bournemouth at Anfield

Jack Simpson of Bournemouth battles with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on March 7, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.Liverpool took another significant step towards winning the Premier League title and bounced back from consecutive defeats by beating Bournemouth 2-1 at Anfield. The struggling visitors stunned the home fans when Callum Wilson opened the scoring after just nine minutes, profiting from VAR’s decision not to penalise him for an apparent push on Joe Gomez.Mohamed Salah calmed the growing nerves, however, when he latched onto Sadio Mane’s pass, twisted onto his left foot and fired inside Aaron Ramsdale’s near post. Mane, himself, got the winner just past the half hour mark when he seized onto V...
Read More
No Comments
BUNDESLIGA

Leipzig held to goalless draw at Wolfsburg, Leverkusen hammers Frankfurt

Wolfsburg's Swiss midfielder Renato Steffen (L) and Leipzig's Austrian midfielder Konrad Laimer (R) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between VfL Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig in Wolfsburg, northern Germany on March 07, 2020.Leipzig looked set to drop further back in the Bundesliga title race after a 0-0 draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday, while Bayer Leverkusen crushed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 to force its way into the Champions League places.Leipzig lacked firepower up front after leaving top scorer Timo Werner on the bench ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Tottenham.Wolfsburg has one of the league's best defensive records and looked more than comfortable holding Leipzig at bay as Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg missed scoring ...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Valencia held at Alaves to 1-1 before crucial Atalanta visit in Champions League

Victor Laguardian of Deportivo Alaves reacts during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Valencia at Estadio de Mendizorroza on March 6, 2020 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.Valencia was held at Alaves to 1-1 on Friday, four days before it must overcome a big deficit to stay in the Champions League.Valencia’s winless streak on the road reached five consecutive games as it stayed in seventh place in the Spanish league.Valencia will host Italian side Atalanta on Tuesday without spectators at Mestalla Stadium for fears of the coronavirus outbreak. Atalanta won the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie 4-1.Midfielder Dani Parejo put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute when he drove a free kick into the top corner of the net for his eighth goal in the competition.After Valencia...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay over fake passport claims

Brazilian retired football player Ronaldinho (C) arrives at Asuncion's Justice Palace to testify about his irregular entry to the country, in Asuncion, on March 6, 2020. - Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country, authorities said Wednesday.Retired footballer Ronaldinho has been arrested in Paraguay after authorities said he entered the country with falsified documents.The 39-year-old Brazilian and his brother, Roberto Assis, were taken to a police station in Asuncion shortly before 10pm on Friday, Paraguay’s prosecutors office said in a statement.Ronaldinho’s lawyer Sergio Queiroz confirmed the arrest and said his legal team in Paraguay has filed an injunction to releas...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Odion Ighalo scores twice to fire Manchester United into FA Cup quarters

Odion Ighalo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-3 during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Derby County and Manchester United at Pride Park on March 5, 2020 in Derby, England.Odion Ighalo scored twice in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Derby County on Thursday night as we booked our place in the FA Cup quarter-final, where we’ll face Norwich away.All the talk before the game was about United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who now has the role of player/coach at Derby, but it was Ighalo who stole the plaudits.With Marcus Rashford ruled out for much of the remainder of the season, Ighalo was the surprise January signing from China, but to his credit, he’s done well in the limited appearances he’s had. With three goals in two starts, he’s picking up ...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Yuri breaks Granada's hearts to set up all-Basque final

Yuri Berchiche of Athletic Bilbao celebrates scoring his team's goal during the Copa del Rey Semi Final second leg match between Granada CF and Athletic Club at Nuevo Los Carmenes on March 05, 2020 in Granada, Spain.Athletic Club are through to the Copa del Rey on away goals after a late strike from Yuri Berchiche broke Granada hearts in the teams’ semi-final second leg at Los Carmenes on Thursday.The Basques took a slender 1-0 lead into this match after Iker Munian’s strike separated the sides at San Mames three weeks ago and it looked like Gaizka Garitano’s side might pay for their poor finishing in Bilbao as Granada too the lead early in the second half.Darwin Machis crossed from the left and Carlos Fernandez glanced a superb header past Unai Simon to level the tie after 48 minutes and ...
Read More
Blogarama - Blog Directory