Blog – Page 458 – Football Flame
Latest Football News

Blog

No Comments
UCL

Champions League Round-up: Borussia Dortmund grab 2-0 win over Monaco to top their group

Borussia Dortmund beat AS Monaco 2-0 on Tuesday to finished top of Champions League Group A ahead of Atletico Madrid.The victory took Dortmund on to 13 points and meant they won the group thanks to a better head-to-head record against the Spaniards, who drew 0-0 at Club Bruges. Raphael Guerreiro got both goals for the Germans, the first when he tapped in following a fine counter-attack with a quarter of an hour gone and the second two minutes from time when he curled a shot into the top corner from around 10 metres out. It was another fine performance by Dortmund, who even without several of their rested regulars extended their season's record to 17 wins, four draws and just one defeat in all competitions. Monaco, who were destined to finish bottom of the group even before the game, suffer...
Read More
No Comments
BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich Sporting director hint at Franck Ribery exit

Franck Ribery will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic indicated on Tuesday.It comes after Arjen Robben said earlier this month that he would leave when his contract expires in the summer after a decade of success with the German champions.Robben, 34, joined in 2009 and formed a formidable attacking partnership with 35-year-old Ribery, whose deal also runs out at the end of the campaign.Salihamidzic told reporters:"The president [Uli Hoeness] talked about it [the possibility of Ribery leaving], and I think it will be like that. It's a year of changes.”Former France international Ribery has made 406 competitive appearances for Bayern, scoring 119 goals, and has featured in 19 games this season."I am pleased that Franck is still playing that wel...
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Champions League: Barcelona announce squad for Tottenham clash

Barcelona will finish their journey in the Champions League group stage with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur, and manager Ernesto Valverde has called up the following 19 players for Tuesday night’s group finale:Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 13. Jasper CillessenDefenders: 2. Nelson Semedo, 3. Gerard Piqué, 15. Clement Lenglet, 18. Jordi Alba, 24. Thomas Vermaelen, 27. Juan MirandaMidfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 5. Sergio Busquets, 6. Denis Suarez, 7. Philippe Coutinho, 8. Arthur, 22. Arturo Vidal, 26. Carles AlenaForwards: 9. Luis Suarez, 10. Lionel Messi, 11. Ousmane Dembele, 19. Munir
Read More
No Comments
UCL

Carlo Ancelotti disclose Napoli's plan to eliminate Liverpool from the Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Napoli will not adopt a defensive approach when it travels to Anfield to face Liverpool in Tuesday's epic UEFA Champions League showdown. The Reds are momentarily faced with a difficult task as they will be required to beat the Serie A club if they fancy their chance of progressing in the knockout phase of the European competition.Napoli, on the other hand, needs just a point to consolidate its qualification to the knockout phase should Paris-Saint Germain lose at Red Star Belgrade. With the prospect of a potential upset existing, Carlo Ancelotti does not want to leave any stone unturned.The ex-Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich manager has reiterated that his team will not sit back for the host to attack.Ancelotti stated after Napoli's 4-0 victory ove...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Gylfi Sigurdsson says Everton Players are happy with the work of new manager Marco Silva

Gylfi Sigurdsson has praised Marco Silva for bringing a feel-good factor to Everton. The Toffees manager Silva has lead the club to seventh in the Premier League table since his summer appointment. Everton will welcomes  Watford to Goodison Park on Monday evening.Iceland international Sigurdsson feels Everton are going in the right direction under their new coach.Sigurdsson told the club website:“I think if you ask any of the players, they are enjoying working with the new manager.“He wants us to play attacking football, to work hard without the ball and press.“There is a good understanding within the players.”Silva brought six new outfield players to Merseyside during the summer. Brazilian duo Richarlison and Bernard were joined by commanding centre-backs Kurt Zouma an...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Juventus beat Inter milan 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten record

Mario Mandzukic in the 66th minute  led Juventus to a 1-0 win over Inter Milan Friday in the first installment of the Derby d’Italia in Turin.The win kept The Juventus unbeaten record in Serie A intact, while Inter Milan failed to gain any ground on Napoli in second. In fact, Napoli could pull farther ahead of Inter as they host Frosinone Saturday. Regardless of how AC Milan does this weekend against Torino, Inter will remain in third-place heading into next weekend.Inter controlled  and had its best chances in the early stages of the first half, especially with Gagliardini’s efforts off a ball from Icardi inside the area.But, after that, Juventus turned up the heat as Mandzukic nearly put the Bianconeri on the board with a header that was pushed away by Samir Handanovic in the 3...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Denis Suarez complains of lack of playing time in Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez has disclosed that he is not happy with his lack of playing time at the club, as speculation of a move away persists.The 24-year-old started for the first time this season on Wednesday, scoring twice as Barcelona beat Cultural Leonesa 4-1 in the Copa del Rey.Suarez has previously said he is determined to fight for his place at the club, but he has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Napoli  with some reports claiming a transfer could go through in January.“The coach said that the Leonesa game was a test for those who do not play regularly, so we will see on Saturday if I have passed,” Suarez said after the game.“I work to play, if I do not play we’ll see. I’m not happy, because I’m not playing and it’s what I want, to play.”
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

EPL: Jurgen Klopp focused on Bournemouth clash, not the league table

Jurgen Klopp’s goal is to ensure Liverpool are ready to perform at their best against AFC Bournemouth, not the plan of going top of the Premier League. Liverpool will visit the Vitality Stadium on Saturday knowing that victory would lift them above Manchester City for a few hours at least, with Pep Guardiola’s team taking on Chelsea later in the day.Klopp’s primary concern, however, is the immediate task of overcoming seventh-placed Bournemouth, not the wider context of the league standings.Klopp stated during Friday’s pre-match press conference:“I don’t think Man City feel any pressure, they don’t look like that and that’s not the first target - the first target is to perform on the highest level because it’s needed against Bournemouth.“They play a fantastic season and it’s just an outsta...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Mauro Icardi named Serie A player of the year

Mauro Icardi may not have won the France Football Ballon d’Or award but he did win the Italian Ballor d’Or given by the Gran Gala del Calcio.The Argentina man, who managed to score 29 goals in 34 Serie A matches was given the award on Monday. He became the first player not of Juventus to win the award since Zlatan Ibrahimovic won it in 2011 while playing for AC Milan.A back heel goal against his former club Sampdoria last season also won him goal of the year.
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Barcelona officially promote Carles Alena to first team squad

Carles Alena is now officially a member of the Barcelona first-team squad and will wear the No. 21 for the rest of the season.Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that he’s been officially registered with La Liga, after Rafinha was ruled out for six months, which means his days with Barcelona B are over.Alena started the season wearing the No. 26 but will now wear the 21 which used to belong to Andre Gomes.
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Barcelona announce squad for Leonesa second leg

Barcelona will welcome Cultural Leonesa for the second leg of their Copa del Rey Round of 32 matchup, with Barça carrying a 1-0 lead from the first game.Ernesto Valverde has called up the following 19 players for the game, with one of them cut from the final matchday squad:Goalkeepers: 1. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 13. Jasper CillessenDefenders: 2. Nélson Semedo, 15. Clément Lenglet, 24. Thomas Vermaelen, 27. Juan Miranda, 36. ChumiMidfielders: 4. Ivan Rakitic, 6. Denis Suarez, 7. Philippe Coutinho, 21. Carles Alena, 22. Arturo Vidal, 28. Riqui Puig, 34. Alex Collado, 35. Oriol Busquets, 38. Guillem JaimeForwards: 11. Ousmane Dembele, 14. Malcom, 19. MunirSince this is a Cup game against a Third Division side, Valverde allows himself to rest his main players, so Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergi...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Riyad Mahrez believes Manchester City will return stronger from Watford scare

Riyad Mahrez has revealed that Manchester City will return stronger from their scare at Watford, but insists any of the top-four teams can still beat them to the Premier League title.Manchester City, who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, extended their unbeaten run after Leroy Sane and Mahrez struck either side of half-time at Vicarage Road.But the champions were given a fright in the concluding stages when Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled over from close range with just five minutes remaining.Despite facing a nervous end as Watford went in search of what, for most of the match seemed an unlikely point, Pep Guardiola’s side held firm to claim their seventh consecutive league victory.The City squad will now be given Thursday off ahead of their match against Chelsea this coming ...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Maurizio Sarri claim Chelsea are ready with new contract for Eden Hazard

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has disclosed the club are ready with a new contract for Eden Hazard, but it remains up to the Belgian forward Hazard if he wants to commit his future with the Blues. Hazard, 27, has been a key player for Chelsea since arriving from French side Lille in 2012, and n recent years has emerged as one of the finest players in the Premier League. Hazard's current contract expires in 2020, which presents a problem for Chelsea if he does not agree to the new deal soon, the club will need to decide whether to sell their best player next summer while they can still command a substantial fee or risk losing him for nothing the following year.Hazard made his thoughts perfectly clear after helping Belgium to third place at the World Cup in Russia that he was torn between C...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Eddie Howe hailed his players as Bournemouth end losing run

Eddie Howe praised his Bournemouth side’s as they ended a four-game losing run with a 2-1 win over Huddersfield. Bournemouth had lost to Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks but goals in the opening 22 minutes from Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser got them back on track.They did have to battle for the three points after that, though, as  Huddersfield came back strongly and made a game of it through Terence Kongolo’s header shortly before the break.Howe was relieved to end his side’s drought and was grateful to their fast start.Howe said:“It’s a big relief, it was a very, very tough game. “We anticipated it would be, we respect Huddersfield a lot, I think they play a really good brand of football, they press really well.“We kne...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Newcastle owner plans to sell club before January transfer window

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley plans to sell the Premier League club before the January transfer window and told Sky News on Monday that talks on a deal had made promising progressAshley, who is also majority shareholder at sportswear retailer Sports Direct, said in October he had not received any acceptable offers for Newcastle a year after he officially put the club up for sale.Asked on Monday if it was realistic for Newcastle to be sold before the transfer window opened on Jan. 1, Ashley said:“Realistic? It’s possible. Realistic is maybe too strong a word. Hopefully we can carry on our recent good form and get the deal done.” Newcastle had a difficult start to the season under Rafa Benitez but three wins in a row moved them up the table before a 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United at...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Luka Modric: the new winner of Ballon d'Or

Luka Modric saw off competition from a host of French World Cup stars as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the 2018 Ballon d'Or on Monday, ending the 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.Modric, 33, was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. Ronaldo was second, with France and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann completing the podium.Paris Saint-Germain's teenage forward Kylian Mbappe came fourth, leaving Messi to settle for fifth position. Another Frenchman, Modric's Madrid teammate Raphael Varane, was seventh, just behind Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.Modric said:"As a kid we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club and win important trophies."The Ballon d'Or was more ...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Bournemouth are unhappy about Dan Gosling injury

Bournemouth midfielder Dan Gosling has been sent for a scan on his knee injury. Gosling picked up the injury against Arsenal last weekend and missed Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City after pulling out of the warm-up.He will get the injury checked out by specialists and is a doubt for Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Huddersfield.Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said in his pre-match press conference:“Dan Gosling is a concern for us.“We’ve sent him away for a scan on his knee so we’ll see how he is. He didn’t feel comfortable during the warm up at the weekend.“We have a couple of niggles. You’re always going to have a few niggles at this time of the season, so we’ll see how those guys are.“We know we’re coming in to a busy period of fixtures. We need everyone in the squad to be r...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa set to undergo foot surgery

Atletico Madrid have comfirmed Diego Costa will undergo surgery on a foot injury but have not put a timescale on his likely absence.The striker will return to Brazil to undertake his operation following an injury sustained last month, that has been troubling him in recent weeks.The 30-year-old has netted just four La Liga goals in the calendar year but recently ended a nine-month scoring drought in the league when he netted against Barcelona.Costa has previously undergone surgery on his left foot when he suffered an injury to his fifth metatarsal.Summer signing Nikola Kalinic or youngster Borja Garces are now likely to be afforded more game time for Los Rojiblancos.
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Southampton sack manager Mark Hughes

Southampton sack manager Mark Hughes after just winning one of their 14 matches so far this season. The Premier League club  announced on their official Twitter account:"Southampton Football Club can today confirm it  has parted company with first team manager Mark Hughes. "Assistant first team manager Mark Bowen and assistant first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also left the club. "We would like to express our thanks to Mark Andy his staff for all their efforts during their time at St Mary’s."The search to find a new manager is already under way. First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will lead the team for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley."
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Real Madrid power on to earn 2-0 win over Valencia

Real Madrid displayed good performance on Saturda to earn a 2-0 win at home to Valencia which allowed them to climb to fifth in the La Liga standings and reduce their recent troubles.The European champions, who were humbled 3-0 by tiny Eibar last week, took a fortuitous lead when Valencia midfielder Daniel Wass nodded a Dani Carvajal cross into his own net in the eighth minute after former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista had failed to clear the danger.The visitors, knocked out of the Champions League in mid-week, let Madrid off the hook on three occasions in the second half when Santi Mina and Paulista failed to hit the target with glorious chances from inside the area.Valencia’s Michy Batshuayi was then denied by his fellow Belgian and former Chelsea team mate Thibaut Courtois in the Re...
Read More
Blogarama - Blog Directory