Barcelona are in a commanding position ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.The Catalans have a 2-0 lead after the first leg at the Bernabeu thanks to a brace from the majestic Lionel Messi, who now has 52 goals to his name for the 2010-11 season in all competitions.
In an ill-tempered affair, Madrid defender Pepe was sent off in the 61st minute, and Barcelona substitute goalkeeper Joes Pinto was also sent off after an ugly fracas at half-time.
The Pepe dismissal also resulted in Real coach Jose Mourinho being sent to the stands, and the post-match fallout was extensive – centring on Mourinho’s outspoken criticism of referee Wolfgang Stark, who he accused of favouring Barcelona.
Both teams enter the clash on the back of some poor league form, with Barca suffering a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad on Saturday, while Mourinho’s men all but handed their fierce rivals the title with their 3-2 loss at home to Real Zaragoza the same day.
Barca have an eight-point lead in the league with four games to play, meaning the Champions League is likely to be Real’s last chance of securing any more silverware this season after their victory in last month’s Copa Del Rey.
Tuesday’s game will be the fourth El Clasico encounter in 18 days.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in La Liga action on April 16, before Cristiano Ronaldo scored an extra-time winner to hand Real the Copa Del Rey four days later.
Both managers have selection dilemmas ahead of the match, with Pep Guardiola’s Barca side particularly hard hit by injuries.
Skipper Carles Puyol is out, Andres Iniesta is in doubt, while French left-back Eric Abidal is still recovering from surgery to remove a tumour from his liver.
Defenders Maxwell and Adriano are both injured, and to further stretch Guardiola’s reserves at the back, Gabriel Milito and Martin Montoya will both miss out after they were hurt in the match with Real Sociedad.
Milito suffered a calf strain while Montoya – in his full match for the club – suffered a broken collarbone.
Mourinho has defensive headaches of his own, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe both suspended, but central defender Ricardo Carvalho should be back after his one-match ban.
Midfielder Sami Khedira is out through injury, but Mourinho could inject Kaka into the fray with the need for goals paramount, after the influential Brazilian was conspicuous by his absence in the first leg.
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has blamed dropping so many points early in the season for their poor showing this campaign.The former Serie A champions have been unbeaten in their last seven matches and remain in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League.
But their current position in seventh does not even earn a Europa League spot, which means they must continue their winning ways when they face Chieva Verona on Monday.
“Yes, we certainly hope that happens. Our last win is making us regret the fact we lost some important points, but our aim is finishing the season with three more victories and then we’ll see what happens,” the 26-year-old said.
“Unfortunately we need some good luck too and hope for some mistakes by the other teams.”
Chiellini was speaking at a function for cancer prevention and said other things were more important than football.
“Yes, definitely something more important: cancer prevention,” he said.
“In particular we are talking about 15, 16-year-old teenagers who are going through a very delicate age, an age you think you are indestructible, while it’s a good thing to begin thinking of your future at that age, avoiding things that can be dangerous for your own health.”
Rangers striker David Healy has been left out of the Northern Ireland squad ahead of next week’s Carling Nations Cup.As his club side wrapped up the Scottish Premier League title on Saturday, Healy continued to struggle to find game time since moving from Sunderland in January.
Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington did not pick the 31-year-old for the squad to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday and Wales three days later.
Teenager midfielder Josh Carson has received a call-up with Stuart Dallas and Jordan Owens also new faces in the squad.
Alan Blayney, Robert Garrett and Colin Coates were also included in the young squad.
Northern Ireland are without Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Fulham defender Aaron Hughes, West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt and Celtic winger Patrick McCourt, with all four being rested.
Squad: Jonathan Tuffey (Inverness), Alan Blayney (Linfield), Lee Hodson (Watford), Craig Cathcart (Blackpool), Colin Coates (Crusaders), Gareth McAuley (Ipswich), Ryan McGivern (Man City), Adam Thompson (Watford), Josh Carson (Ipswich), Sammy Clingan (Coventry), Niall McGinn (Celtic), Stuart Dallas (Crusaders), Steven Davis (Rangers), Robert Garrett (Linfield), Johnny Gorman (Wolves), Oliver Norwood (Man Utd), Liam Boyce (Werder Bremen), Warren Feeney (Oldham), Josh McQuoid (Millwall), Jordan Owens (Crusaders)
Chelsea have re-signed veteran goalkeeper Hilario for another year, the English Premier League runners-up announced on Monday.The shot-stopper has made 37 appearances for the west London club since joining from Portuguese outfit Nacional in June 2006.
The one-cap Portugal international will spend at least one more season at Stamford Bridge, where he has provided back up to first-choice keeper Petr Cech.
“Hilario has signed a one-year extension to his current Chelsea contract,” a statement on the club’s website read.
“The 35-year-old goalkeeper’s contract would have run out this summer but he will now spend a sixth season at Stamford Bridge, having so far made 33 starts and four substitute appearances in his role as one of the keepers supporting Petr Cech.”
“Last season, Hilario played one game, the Community Shield match against Manchester United at Wembley. In March 2010, he made his one appearance for the Portugal national side.”
The extension puts an end to speculation Hilario was on his way out of the club, who remain without a manager since the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on May 22.
New Manchester City signing Gael Clichy cannot wait to get started at his new club, declaring there is ‘no limit’ to what they can achieve.The former Arsenal full-back became Roberto Mancini’s first signing in the off-season after signing a four-year deal on Monday.
On the back of a season that saw them finish third in the English Premier League, securing Champions League qualification, and winning their first major trophy in 35 years in the FA Cup, Clichy believes City is a club on the up.
“There is no limit at Manchester City,” France international Clichy said.
“Of course, you have to be realistic but there is no limit. Where they have come from in three years is phenomenal. And I want to win things.”
Clichy will be competing with the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescot and – provided he stays at Eastlands – Wayne Bridge for a left-back slot in Mancini’s side.
But the Toulouse native is looking forward to the challenge.
“Sometimes it is difficult to have a lot of players because you have to leave some out. But you need to have a big squad to go all the way. That is why I joined City.”
“It’s a new life for me, a new chapter but I’m really looking forward to it because it’s an amazing challenge for me.”
Clichy, 26, spent eight years with Arsenal, and was part of the north London club’s last championship winning side in 2004.
Japan became the first Asian nation to win the Women’s World Cup, beating the USA in a penalty shoot-out on Sunday.After the match finished 2-2 following extra time, the USA missed their first three penalties, and Japan were crowned world champions when Saki Kumagai slotted her spot-kick high past the USA goalkeeper Hope Solo.
It was a sad end for the USA, who were just three minutes away from becoming the first country to lift the cup three times, only for Japan to equalise for the second time in a thrilling final.
But it was a night of joy for Japan and their captain, Homare Sawa, 32, who flicked a corner through a jumble of players and past Solo in the 117th minute to take the contest to penalties.
“We ran and ran – we were exhausted but we kept running,” said Sawa, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals.
“Not one of the players gave up,” the coach, Norio Sasaki, said. “The penalty kicks are always a 50-50 chance.”
“The players were patient, they wanted to win this game and I think it’s because of that the Americans scored only two goals,” Sasaki said.
“Considering the current situation in Japan, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, and in particular for the support we received from Germany.”
USA coach, Pia Sundhage, was unable to explain the penalty misses.
“Sometimes in, sometimes out,” she said. “A couple of mistakes and we let them in the game.”
“It’s hard to lose with PKs. We couldn’t put away our chances. It’s a small difference between winning and losing.”
Both US goalkeeper Hope Solo and striker Abby Wambach praised Japan.
“As much as I wanted this, if there’s any team I could have given this to it’s Japan. So I’m happy for them,” Solo said.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking,” Wambach said.
“Japan played well, they never gave up. We had chances throughout the game and we didn’t put them away.”
Inter Milan chief Ernesto Paolillo admits the Serie A giants would sell Wesley Sneijder if presented with an offer they could not refuse.English champions Manchester United have been linked to the playmaker throughout the transfer window with reports the San Siro outfit is holding out for an offer in the region of 40 million euros.
Paolillo said on Thursday the club had not received an offer from United, but admitted they would consider selling the Dutch international.
“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold. It all depends on the price,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.
“There are certain opportunities that you simply can’t turn down.”
“An offer from Manchester United for Sneijder? We haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”
Paolillo would not be drawn into whether they were interested in want-away Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez after Inter sporting director Marco Branca spoke to him on a beach in Sardinia recently.
“We can’t do anything about it when he comes to Milan or visits the same beaches as Branca. Nevertheless, we’re not going there looking for him,” he said
Staying in the Italian top flight, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will remain with the Premier League side.
Galliani also denied speculation the Serie A champions were interested in signing Fabregas, who has been heavily linked to a move to Barcelona.
“Fabregas costs an astronomical amount of money and is not one of our objectives at the moment. He will stay at Arsenal rather than move to Barcelona as far as I know,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The AC Milan chief also ruled out a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-German are reportedly on the verge of signing Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.
Sky Sport 24 report the former Liverpool man is headed for the Ligue 1 side after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of seven million euros.
At Anfield, Sky Sports report Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s potential loan move to Fiorentina has fallen through.
In La Liga, Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez is hopeful winger Juan Mata will not move to England, despite being linked to Arsenal.
The curtain raiser to the Premier League season produced an absolute thriller as Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to defeat their great rivals in the Community Shield, at Wembley Stadium.
Sir Alex Ferguson must have wondered what hit him in the first half that was largely dominated by the Champions, but goals from Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko gave their rivals City a 2-0 advantage going into half-time.
The game certainly proved a baptism of fire for United goalkeeper, David De Gea, who was certainly at fault for both goals and Fergie will be hoping that the young Spaniard regains his confidence and composure ahead of next week’s opener.
It must have been a strange teamtalk for Ferguson to give, with United the better of the two teams, but fortunately it wasn’t long into the second half before Chris Smalling brought United back into the game with an excellent finish beyond Joe Hart. The goal galvanised United into action and they didn’t take long to notch up an equaliser with a wonderful team effort finished off by Nani.
The last half hour was end to end with City slowing becoming the stronger side in the last 15mins, but just as penalties were looming large, Nani punished Vincent Kompany’s error to nick the winner deep into stoppage time.
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The result will certainly have no psychological bearing on the football season, but it has certainly whetted supporter’s appetite for the big Premier League Kick Off next Saturday.
The newly promoted clubs will have a great deal of trouble surviving in the Premier League, without a squad full of players that have hundreds of Premier league appearances, amongst them. At least, that is the generally considered outlook. However, in truth, is there really any substance to this.
I’m sure any international or national media outlet can provide pages of data that back up this theory. However, what would they say about the fact that West Ham got relegated last season, with players possessing significant Premier League experience, and even included England internationals.
How was it that Blackpool, nearly managed survival despite having a squad that had barely played a Premier League game between them. Maybe surviving in the Premier league is a darn sight more complicated than having or not having Premier League experience. Dare I say that Premier League experience has no relevance on survival.
Swansea, Norwich and QPR will certainly hope that it isn’t essential. Of the three promoted clubs, QPR have put a greater emphasis on Premier League experience with the signings of DJ Campbell and Danny Gabbidon and are now bidding to bring Scott Parker into the squad.
Paul Lambert is more interested in signing players that are young and hungry to prove they can play at Premier League level. This doesn’t mean, he is ignoring Premier League players, but he isn’t focusing on them either. His eight summer signings have come from the Championship, League One and the Premier League. Despite the so-called lack of Premier League experience, Paul Lambert’s transfer policy should hold Norwich in good stead.
Equally, Swansea, will be hoping that Danny Graham can step up to Premier League football, even though he hasn’t played in the top flight before. Swansea will draw inspiration from Blackpool, who proved that players lacking in Premier League experience can step up and do very well. Blackpool’s major success stories from last season were Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell. Both players have now earned moves to current Premier League clubs.
I think it is also important for newly promoted clubs to be careful which Premier league model they follow. You could for instance, look at Wolves and Wigan and decide that is a good model to follow. Admittedly, they have managed to sustain Premier League football. However, has either club really progressed?
In order for a team to plan ahead, they need to become an established Premier League club. Of course, it is difficult to define exactly what an established Premier League club is, but a pretty good rule seems to be a team that people don’t think will go down. The best current example is Stoke City, Stoke can afford to plan ahead, and they have progressed, every year they have been In the Premier League. This season, of course, they will be playing in Europe.
Who knows what the future holds for QPR, Norwich and Swansea. But a lack of Premier League experience, doesn’t mean that relegation is inevitable. There is plenty to be optimistic about coming into the new season.
Yes, it is likely that at least one of these teams will get relegated. But there is no reason to think that two can’t stay up, as Newcastle and West Brom proved last season. Team spirit, togetherness, and having a good manager can get you a long way. It will be a tough battle, but clubs need to keep in mind, the future, when buying players to sustain Premier League football.
Too many newly promoted clubs go down the road of spending a lot of money on established players. The thinking is, the quality will keep them in the Premier League. However, the cost of failure can be very high, because the players will either wish to leave or stay and cripple the club financially in the Championship.
This is where, Norwich has been very smart. Eight players have been signed, but with the minimum of financial risk. The club can also be reasonably confident that these players would be prepared to play Championship football and wage costs can be kept under control. So, if the worst thing was to happen and Norwich got relegated, then at least they would have one of the strongest squads in the Championship.
Now, if they had followed the age-old wisdom of Premier League experience. Well first of all those players would been very expensive, either in wages, transfer fees or both. Now of course, you would hope that those players would be good enough to keep you up. However, if they were not they would most likely leave the club, leaving a depleted squad. If that weren’t to happen, they would stay, but being paid high wages.
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A further point is that experienced Premier League players are probably nearing the end of their careers. Therefore, the chance of getting your money back on them is relatively slim. Now consider a player coming in the Championship that is 21 years old. That player can develop and may turn out to be a quality Premier League player. Now either the club will sell that player and make a huge profit or the club will benefit from having one of the better Premier League players.
This is effectively, what happened with Charlie Adam last season and at the end of the season Blackpool made themselves a significant profit, by selling the player to Liverpool. Maybe this conventional wisdom is deeply flawed. And this year’s crop of newly promoted sides can continue what Blackpool started last season.
Foreign owners are common in the Premier League these days, whether its Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, the Glazers at Manchester United or Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City, English teams have increasingly become the playthings of the rich and famous. The current trend suggests that there will be an influx of Middle Eastern owners, which could mark the end of American investment in the Premier League.
There was a time when it seemed as if most of the Premier League sides were destined to end up in the hands of wealthy American owners. The Glazer’s blazed a trail with their takeover of Manchester United, and many of their countrymen were quick to follow them to the English game. However, that trend seems to have slowed down of late, and all the talk-or rumours-of foreign takeovers seems to be coming from the Middle East.
The Glazer’s seem to be looking for a way out, and Manchester United are continually linked with a sale to the Qatari royal family. They have snubbed their offers in the past, but with market conditions looking extremely volatile, they could be tempted should a new deal be brought to the table. If the deal were to go ahead it could give United the same kind of spending money as Man City, and would raise questions about whether anyone else in the league could compete with this type of investment.
Cash from the Gulf has already begun to transform the look of the game, and has changed the fortunes of clubs across Europe from the likes of Malaga and PSG, to Anzhi Makhachkala and of course Manchester City. The flow of cash to clubs with little, or no history of previous success, is turning football upside down. The incredible investment in Manchester City by the Abu Dhabi group in 2008 has changed the footballing landscape forever.
Manchester City’s owners seem to have done a good job and appear to have solidified the partnership between the Premier League and the Middle East. They have managed to attract the biggest names, pay the biggest wages, secure massive transfer deals and made promises to invest in ensuring the regeneration of the local area and the future of the club. This has now become the blueprint for Premier League ownership and it seems that there is little that many outside the Middle East can do to compete. Whilst this is great if your club is taken over by Middle Eastern owners, we have to bear in mind the new Uefa Financial Fair Play rules which begin in 2013-14. It remains to be seen what sort of impact the regulations will have on this type of ownership, but they are supposed to cut the ability of clubs to rely on wealthy benefactors.
Whatever nation the owners of Premier League clubs come from, one problem they continue to add to is the problems of debt within the Premier League, which continue to spiral out of control. The concern with foreign owners is that they will swan in and be quick to take their money out of the club as quickly as possible, negative examples like Hicks and Gillette and-despite the trophy haul-the Glazers do not help this image. So far Manchester City’s owners have acted honourably and professionally, but it remains to be seen if the Middle Eastern owners will be here to stay.
The Arab era of investment shouldn’t signal the end of American investment in the Premier League, the likes of Randy Lerner and Ellis Short have done well at their respective clubs and shown that most American’s do know how to run sports teams on this side of the pond. The Premier League allows clubs and therefore sponsors access to a global market, and it offers the owners a chance to acquire a well known, truly global, sports brand. If this globalisation of the Premier League continues then more clubs can expect to fall into foreign hands, and in the search to stay competitive it is more and more likely that these investors will be from the Middle East, as even the American’s begin to fall behind.
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This season could be the breakthrough one for the Gulf owned clubs, and signal whether it is their intent to stay. The Premier League grew used to the influx of American owners at several of its top clubs, but the arrival of the Gulf has shepherded in a new era that even the American’s and Roman Abramovich don’t seem to be able to compete with.
Do you think Middle Eastern investment is likely to end American investment in the Premier League? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.