Month: November 2020

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ALASSANE PLEA SCORES HATRICK AS BORRUSIA MONCHEGLADBACH BEATS SHAKTAR 6-0

Striker Alassane Plea scored a hat-trick as Borussia Mönchengladbach crushed their hosts Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 on Tuesday to take over from them at the top of Group B of the Champions League.

Gladbach, who conceded late equalisers in their previous group matches against Inter Milan and Real Madrid, scored four in the first half, with two coming from the 27-year-old Plea, to kill off the game and eventually earn one of the largest away wins of the competition.

They are now top on five points from three games, one point ahead of Shakhtar.

Inter and Real, on two and one point respectively from two games, play each other in the late game in the group on Tuesday.

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ATL MADRID 1-1 L.MOSCOW: DIEGO SIMEONE SIDE FORCED TO A DRAW.

Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Lokomotiv Moscow in their Group A match after the home team’s goalkeeper Guilherme pulled off a string of superb saves to keep the Russian side in the hunt for a last-16 berth.

The result left Atletico second in the group on four points from three games, two behind Bayern Munich who were playing Salzburg away later on Tuesday. Lokomotiv have two points and Salzburg one.

Centre back Jose Gimenez fired Atletico ahead in the 18th minute with a fine header from 13 metres after an inch-perfect cross by Hector Herrera, a minute after Guilherme kept out a Saul Niguez shot.

The home side levelled in the 25th after a lengthy VAR check deemed Herrera to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Anton Miranchuk sent Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way with a perfect spot-kick.

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UCL: BARCELONA’S DYNAMO KYIV CLASH COULD BE CALLED OFF DUE TO COVID-19.

Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night is at serious threat of being called off due to a breakout of coronavirus in the Ukrainian team’s squad.

Only 13 first-team players travelled to Spain on Monday, the minimum number established by UEFA’s health protocols.

An additional six from the youth team have made the journey, but if only one more player from List A tests positive than the match will be postponed.

Six players in total from the Ukrainian club have been infected, with more testing set to take place on Tuesday morning.

The six players last trained with the Dynamo squad on Sunday, according to reliable sources.

Though the players who have travelled tested negative, they could still manifest the disease at a later stage, increasing the risk that they could infect Barcelona players.

If the game has to be rescheduled, then a new date will have to be found before the cut-off point of January 28, which may prove difficult due to the heavily congested calendar.

Dynamo announced that the six covid-19 casualties are Nikolai Shaparenko, Alexandr Karavaev, Gueorgui Tsitaishvili, Denis Garmash, Mikkel Duelund and Tudor Baluta.

In addition, assistant coach Emil Karas and four other members of the backroom staff tested positive.

Goalkeepers Denys Boyko and Heorhiy Bushchan and defender Vitaliy Mykolenko also suffered injuries against Dnipro at the weekend, leaving the Ukrainian outfit short even further.

Coach Mircea Lucescu has been forced to call-up two goalkeepers from his reserves and another from the youth team, with the average age of the squad travelling out dropped to just 22.37 years.

They are scheduled to train on the pitch at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.

Dynamo sit third in Champions League Group G, having lost their first game to Juventus before drawing with Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros.

Barcelona sit top with two wins from two, including an impressive 2-0 victory at Juve last week.

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FA ANNOUNCES HALT OF NON-ELITE FOOTBALL DURING SECOND STREAM OF LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND.

Non-elite football in England will be halted during the second national lockdown period, the Football Association has announced.

The FA said matches and training in steps three to six of the men’s national league system (NLS) and tiers three to seven of the women’s football pyramid would be suspended during the upcoming lockdown period, which is being imposed by the Government amid a second wave of coronavirus infections nationwide.

The suspension also covers matches and training in regional NLS feeder leagues, the Women’s Super League academy league, FA girls regional talent clubs and indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

The suspension comes into effect from Thursday, with the new restrictions set to last until at least December 2.

“Restarting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and The FA would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions,” a statement from the governing body read.

“However, health and well-being remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions during this period.”

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RYAN GIGGS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, according to reports.

The Wales manager, 46, was allegedly arrested and later bailed on suspicion of assaulting Kate Greville, his girlfriend of three years.

Police were called to a £1.7million home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on Sunday after reports of a “disturbance”, the reports say.

A representative for Mr Giggs said he denied the allegations and is cooperating with police.

The statement said: “Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him. He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations.”

Giggs was photographed leaving Pendleton police station yesterday afternoon and was driven away in a black Mercedes.

The couple reportedly met when Greville began work as PR for Hotel Football in 2013 after moving from Dubai.

In a statement given to the Sun, Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at 10.05pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment.

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault.”

Wales have cancelled a press conference scheduled for Tuesday following what it described as an “alleged incident” involving the manager.

Wales were due to announce their squad on Tuesday for the upcoming friendly against the USA, and Nations League fixtures with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But the Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed it has been made aware of an issue surrounding the 46-year-old boss.

“The FAW is aware of an alleged incident involving the men’s national team manager Ryan Giggs,” an FAW spokesman said. “The FAW will be making no further comment at this current time.”

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SCOTT PARKER NOT INTERESTED IN LEAGUE POSITION AFTER FULHAM WIN AGAINST WESTBROM.

Fulham manager Scott Parker played down the importance of moving clear of the Premier League relegation zone following his side’s dominant 2-0 win over West Brom.

Goals from Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ola Aina secured a first league win back in the top tier for the Cottagers and left the visitors still waiting to break their duck.

The result saw Fulham leapfrog their opponents and out of the bottom three, but Parker believes league position is not especially important at this stage of the season.

When asked what it meant psychologically to be out of the drop zone, he said: “Nothing really to be honest. It’s really irrelevant at this moment for me.

“What is relevant to me is the team moving in the right direction and improving and us moving in the right way and I see that and I have seen that in the weeks before this.

“OK the results haven’t been there and I understand when the result’s not there the noise is ‘can’t win’ but I have seen massive improvements.

“But in terms of the table and where we sit on that, to me that’s irrelevant. Let’s see where we are at the end, but what is important to me is that the team are going in the right direction and I am seeing that.”

On the game, Parker added: “I think overall, all round a very good performance. Obviously the result was important. We all understood that because we started this season and I’ve sat here and said that performance-wise I think we were progressing in the right way, but I think for everyone – the team, the club – we needed the win and we’ve got that.”

The one downside was the injury to Mario Lemina, with Parker confirming the midfielder was brought off at half-time as a precaution after he felt his hamstring in the opening 45 minutes.

West Brom manager Slaven Bilic conceded his side did not play well enough at Craven Cottage, as they continue their search for a first win back in the top tier.

“I’m very disappointed obviously,” he said. “We were looking forward for this game because the last couple of games we looked really good, we played really good in training, lot of intensity, lot of quality to be fair. But when we need to produce it on the pitch we simply didn’t do it.

“We were good for 25 minutes but after that they were stronger than us, they were sharper, quicker, better passing, better one-against-one, better in that area where it matters to make a difference.

“That’s when it really hurts when you find out that you didn’t deserve a thing from this game, you can’t say that you were unlucky, you can’t say that you missed some chances or whatever, no, they were much better than us.”

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“SALAH DIDN’T DIVE”: KLOPP DEFENDS EGYPYTIAN FOR PENALTY INCIDENT AGAINST WESTHAM, SAYS STAR HAS MARKS TO SHOW FOR IT.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit back at accusations Mohamed Salah dived to win a penalty in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham United. Salah came under criticism from West Ham manager David Moyes for his role in winning the spot kick which helped Liverpool record a victory in the Premier League.

Salah went down in the penalty area after a clumsy challenge from Arthur Masuaku. He then stepped up to score the penalty that drew Liverpool level.

West Ham manager David Moyes was upset with the decision to award a penalty but Klopp was in no doubt Salah had been fouled.

“Pretty much everyone who saw the situation thought it was a foul,” Klopp told British media, adding that he had spoken to the striker about his fitness.

“He has exactly three proper knocks on the foot and one of them is from the penalty situation,” added Klopp.

“We don’t talk much about the penalties we don’t get but now two days after we are talking about this. There was clear contact. I don’t understand the criticism.”

Liverpool face Italian side Atalanta in the Champions League later on Tuesday.

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LEEDS UTD 1-4 LEICESTER: FOXES THRASH IN-FORM WHITES TO GO SECOND ON THE EPL TABLE.

Leicester moved up to second in the Premier League table with a 4-1 win at in-form Leeds on Monday evening.

The humbling of Leeds means the Foxes have won five out of their opening seven top-flight matches for the first time in their history.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the second minute following a sloppy back-pass by Robin Koch in just the second minute.

Jamie Vardy capitalised on Koch’s mistake to unselfishly square to Barnes in a counter-attack which happened just seconds after Leeds striker Patrick Bamford headed straight at Kaspar Schmeichel.

Leeds, who won 3-0 at Aston Villa last time out, were undone once more when Youri Tielemans tapped in from close-range after Illan Meslier parried a Vardy shot in the 21st minute.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side were given hope three minutes after the restart as Stuart Dallas’ inviting cross found its way past everyone and into the back of the net.

Veteran midfielder Pablo Hernandez almost drew Leeds level when his 20-yard strike hit the crossbar.

And the three points were sealed for Leicester when Cengiz Under squared for Vardy to score his eighth goal of the season with 14 minutes remaining.

Leicester rubbed salt in the wound when Tielemans converted an injury-time penalty after Andre Marriner used his pitchside monitor to determine Mateusz Klich fouled James Maddison in the box.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are now just one point from leaders Liverpool, while Leeds drop to 12th place.

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AGUERO COULD BE FIT FOR LIVERPOOL CLASH – GUARDIOLA.

Pep Guardiola has not ruled out Sergio Agüero returning early from a hamstring injury for Manchester City’s match at home to Liverpool on Sunday and could have Gabriel Jesus back for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Olympiakos.

Agüero was injured in the draw at West Ham on October 24th. Guardiola’s initial view was that the club’s record goalscorer could be out for up to a month but there is a chance the 32-year-old could face Liverpool in a pivotal early-season fixture. If City beat the champions they will move two points behind Liverpool with a match in hand.

Asked about Agüero’s prospects the manager said: “We don’t want to make a step back again [by rushing him] but he’s getting better. It’s not so [bad] as we believed when he felt something in the last game, against West Ham. He’s getting better – I don’t know about Liverpool. After the international break for sure he’ll be ready.”

Jesus suffered a muscle problem after playing all of City’s season-opening win at Wolves on September 21st, and Guardiola has fielded Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres as deputy No 9s in the absence of Jesus and Agüero. The Brazilian could return for the visit of Olympiakos in City’s third Group C game.

“We’ll see the last training [before the match],” Guardiola said. ”He did one with the team yesterday [Sunday]. We are happy he’s back but we’ve been happy with Ferran so we have an alternative.”

Torres has scored in each of City’s previous two Champions League wins, against Porto and Marseille, operating at centre forward in the latter match. Sterling has played in the position numerous times under Guardiola. The manager has previously said Agüero will be close to impossible to replace and was asked on Monday whether Sterling might be a long-term solution.

“He can play there when the opponents are defending a lot of spaces in behind; when teams come to press he can do it,” he said. “When teams settle in the box for 90 minutes he’s better down the sides than in the middle.”

In the transfer window Nathan Aké and Rúben Dias were bought to strengthen City’s centre back options, with Aymeric Laporte, Eric García and John Stones already at the club. Guardiola is content with this new depth after Vincent Kompany’s departure in summer 2019 and Laporte’s serious injury blighted his previous campaign.

“Definitely I am pleased,” he said. “We struggled a lot last season, with the problems we had: Vincent went to Belgium [to Anderlecht] and there was a serious injury for Laporte. We were damaged, but we’ve new players coming and we have alternatives to use in the position.”

Guardiola warned against complacency when playing Olympiakos, the Greek champions. “You cannot make a false step in the Champions League because after that you struggle,” he said.

“We know to qualify you have to secure your games at home and win at least one away. We did it winning in Marseille but now we have to be sure we can keep the points at home. That’s why tomorrow we have an incredible opportunity to make a huge step to qualify for the next round. Olympiakos have to win every game and when you play with this mentality it’s difficult to face.”

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DAVID ALABA UNHAPPY WITH BAYERN CONTRACT RIFT.

David Alaba said Monday he was “hurt and disappointed” after learning that Bayern Munich had withdrawn a proposed contract extension following months of wrangling over a new deal. “I was surprised, I learned about it through the press. It was obviously a very odd situation,” Alaba said at a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game away to Salzburg. Bayern president Herbert Hainer told German television on Sunday that Alaba’s agent Pini Zahavi had found the club’s most recent offer “unsatisfactory”.

As a result, he said “the club decided to finish the offer and to take it off the table – that means there is no longer any offer.”

Alaba, whose deal runs out in June 2021, reaffirmed his commitment to Bayern on Monday, insisting he had not held talks with any other clubs.

“I’m a player who really loves to play for Bayern Munich, I’m still very happy to be part of this team,” he said.

Reports claim the Austria international is seeking an extension worth more than 20 million euros annually ($23 million) to bring him in line with the club’s highest-paid players.

Honorary Bayern president Uli Hoeness branded Alaba’s agent Pini Zahavi a ‘money-greedy piranha’ amid the acrimonious negotiations.

However Alaba, whose current contract is worth around 10 million euros per season, disputes the numbers being discussed and said he was “hurt and disappointed” that nobody at the club has “denied these allegations”.