On – Football Flame

Mbappe on target as Madrid lift Intercontinental Cup

19Dec

By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Mbappe on target as Madrid lift Intercontinental Cup

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid holds the FIFA Intercontinental Cup trophy following the FIFA Intercontinental Cup match between Real Madrid and CF Pachuca at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup by beating Mexico's Pachuca 3-0 in the final on Wednesday. The attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr were on target for the Los Blancos in Qatar. French national captain Mbappe was declared doubtful for the summit clash after missing Real Madrid's La Liga game against Vallacano a few days ago due to a thigh injury. Carlo Ancelotti had said that he would not risk Mbappe at the Lusail Stadium unless he was fully match-fit. The Champions League winners open...

Kroos feels Bayern is too dependent on Musiala

7Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Kroos feels Bayern is too dependent on Musiala

Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on November 30, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. It is hard to argue against the claim that Jamal Musiala is currently Bayern Munich’s best player, along with the German national team. He is, without a doubt, one of the most promising young talents in world football, which is almost a paradoxical statement because of how long it already feels like he has been on the scene for both club and country and how much he has achieved in such a short amount of time. After a strong EUROs tournament with Germany, Musiala has already made his presence felt this season. For Bayern, he has already tallied a total of 10 goals and 4 assists...

Serie A match abandoned after Bove collapses on pitch

2Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Serie A match abandoned after Bove collapses on pitch

Edoardo Bove of ACF Fiorentina collapses to the ground due to an illness and is transported to hospital during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 1, 2024 in Florence, Italy. Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove is in intensive care in hospital after collapsing on the pitch during his side’s Serie A match against Inter Milan. The match was suspended after the incident in the 16th minute before later being abandoned. A Fiorentina statement, external said Bove, 22, is “currently under pharmacological sedation and hospitalised in intensive care”. The Italian club have said he will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours. “He arrived at the emergency room in stable hemodynamic conditions and the first cardiological and neurological te...

Mbappe nets as Madrid narrow gap on Barcelona

2Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Mbappe nets as Madrid narrow gap on Barcelona

(L-R) Juan Iglesias of Getafe , Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v Getafe at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 1, 2024 in Madrid Spain. Goals for Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe moved Real Madrid a point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona with victory over Getafe. Bellingham scored a penalty with half an hour played after Allan Nyom had dragged Antonio Rudiger to the floor during a corner routine. The England midfielder set up the second eight minutes later when he threaded a ball through for Mbappe, who took a touch before slotting into the bottom corner. Getafe’s best chance came when Christantus Uche span away from Rudiger and fired a fierce effort against the post, with Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois beaten. A thumping stri...

Arteta update on injured star ahead of West Ham clash

29Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arteta update on injured star ahead of West Ham clash

LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 26: Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 26, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) Mikel Arteta played his cards close to his chest when quizzed about Gabriel Magalhaes' fitness ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with West Ham.The Gunners' boss was tight-lipped following Gabriel's injury in the dying moments of their 5-1 thrashing of Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The centre-back netted a goal in a dazzling display for Arsenal in Portugal but hobbled off in the 84th minute, replaced by Jakob Kiwior due to injury concerns. In his post-match presser, Arteta labelled the proble...

Dyche hopeful on Branthwaite availability for Brentford clash

21Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Dyche hopeful on Branthwaite availability for Brentford clash

Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace FC at Goodison Park on September 28, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Everton will wait to see how Jarrad Branthwaite responds to today's full training session at Finch Farm before deciding whether he can play against Brentford with the Blues' season resumes on Saturday. With the final interruption for internationals of the year out the way, Premier League clubs get back into action this weekend and though Branthwaite was forced to withdraw from the England squad with a pelvic complaint, he is on track to feature for Sean Dyche's side against the Bees. He looks likely to be joined in the starting XI by Dwight McNeil who was forced to sit out the goalless draw at West ...

Manchester City, PSG plot raid on Barcelona for €30 million-rated star

28Oct

By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

TRANSFERS

Manchester City, PSG plot raid on Barcelona for €30 million-rated star

Inaki Pena of FC Barcelona with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keen on signing 25-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena. According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to sign 25-year-old goalkeeper Inaki Pena from La Liga outfit Barcelona, and they would have to pay €30 million for him. There is no doubt that both clubs have the financial muscle to get the deal done, and it will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an official offer to sign the Spanish goalkeeper. Inalki Pena is not a key player for Barcelona, and he won’t be a regular sta...

27Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Iwobi rues Fulham’s failure to hold on

Fulham's Alex Iwobi scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2024. Alex Iwobi was phlegmatic after Fulham failed to hold onto the lead he established for them at Everton on Saturday evening – as the Whites were denied three points on his return to Goodison Park by Beto’s late, late leveller. The Nigerian international struck a superb second half opener from just outside the box after a brilliant individual dribble from Emile Smith Rowe. His low-key celebration in front of the travelling fans was a testament to how special he considered his years on the blue half of Merseyside. Iwobi told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “It would have been a nice feeling to get three points against my old...

Manchester United’s worst start, Ten Hag walks on thin ice after draw against Aston Villa

7Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United’s worst start, Ten Hag walks on thin ice after draw against Aston Villa

Manchester United ground out a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday in an English Premier League game steeped in speculation about the future of the visitors’ under-fire manager Erik ten Hag amid the team’s worst start in the Premier League era. The draw sends Unai Emery’s men into the international break in fifth in the table on 14 points after seven games, while United are languishing in 14th with eight points and still searching for their third win of the season. Their points tally is United’s lowest in their opening seven matches of a Premier League campaign and their lowest in any league season since 1989-90 (seven points), when they went on to finish 13th under Alex Ferguson — his lowest league finish. “It wasn’t perfect, we didn’t probably pass the ball as well as we would have liked t...

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta provides update on injured star Martin Odegaard

4Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta provides update on injured star Martin Odegaard

Arsenal are preparing to face Southampton in the Premier League this weekend. The Gunners are still unbeaten this season and coming fresh from a comfortable win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in the midweek. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka ensured the win for Arteta’s team against the French champions. Arsenal received a major boost in the Champions League after new signing Mikel Merino made his debut for the club following his return from an injury. Captain Martin Odegaard is still out with a long term injury and his return is still not known. Ahead of the match against Southampton, the Arsenal manager has provided the update about his captain. Arteta said, as reported by The Independent: “Martin is very difficult. I expected him to still have a boot on and oth...