Madrid & Barca January transfer news LIVE
Transfers Real Madrid & Barcelona January transfer news LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo reveals future plans Goal Last updated 1 year ago 18:04 1/27/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) Transfers Barcelona Real Madrid Primera División Goal brings you all the latest news, rumours and deals related to the Blancos and Blaugrana as the January transfer window heats up Ronaldo reveals future plansCristiano Ronaldo has revealed he has no plans to leave Real Madrid amid talk of transfer interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.Real’s struggles in 2017-18 have highlighted the need for a freshening up of the ranks, with it suggested that Ronaldo could be a victim of that process.But Ronaldo has pledged his future to the Blancos – read the full quotes right here on Goal! Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player Neymar to Real ‘possible’ – Robinho
Neymar leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid is “a possibility”, according to fellow Brazilian and former Blancos star Robinho.Amid mounting speculation suggesting that a man who was involved in a €222 million deal last summer could be about to make another big-money switch, Goal recently revealed that PSG have vowed to open the exit door if Champions League glory is secured in 2018 .Robinho is the latest to have his say on the potential transfer – read the full story right here on Goal!Real Madrid plot £500m summer raid
Real Madrid are planning an astonishing £500 million summer raid on the Premier League, according to the Daily Mail . The Spanish club have their eyes on two main attacking targets, each of whom would draw a world-record £200m fee: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Tottenham’s Harry Kane. In addition, the Blancos would also shell out £100m for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. Real to go after Pochettino
Real Madrid have made contact with Tottenham over a summer move for manager Mauricio Pochettino, according to the Daily Mail. With Zinedine Zidane under pressure, the Blancos have begun making plans for potential replacements. Pochettino is reportedly tempted by the idea of managing the La Liga giants. Arsenal agree terms with Benzema
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has agreed personal terms with Arsenal for a summer move, reports Diario Gol . The France striker’s transfer to London is still up in the air, however, with Madrid demanding €60 million for the 30-year-old and Arsenal only prepared to pay €40m.Real have €300m to spend
Real Madrid have a total of €300 million to spend in the summer transfer window, reports Marca.The Spanish giants are keen to reinforce their squad with a Galactico signing, with their last major buy coming in 2014, when James Rodriguez joined the club for €80m.They have been linked with several stars this time around, including PSG’s Neymar and Tottenham’s Harry Kane.’Neymar happy at PSG’
Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery has moved to quash rumours that Neymar could be in line for a summer move to Real Madrid.Reports have suggested the Brazil star has become unhappy in Paris, even perhaps regretting leaving Barcelona for the French capital club in a move that made him the most expensive player of all time.Additionally, Goal revealed that Neymar has a gentlemen’s agreement with the PSG board which will allow him to leave for Madrid should he help deliver Champions League glory to the Ligue 1 champions .Emery, however, insists his star attacker is going nowhere.Read the full story on Goal right here! Ronaldo leaving depends on Neymar
Cristiano Ronaldo will only be allowed to leave Real Madrid if the Spanish giants sign Neymar, according to AS . The Spanish outlets claims that Ronaldo wants to join Manchester United, but that Los Blancos will only allow that move to happen if the club lands Neymar in the summer. The report also claims that Ronaldo could be used as part of the deal to land the Brazilian star, keeping him from making the jump back to the Red Devils. Luan rubbishes Liverpool link
Gremio star Luan has denied that Liverpool have made an offer for his services.Rumours this week have suggested that the Reds have entered into talks with the Brazilian club, as they prepare to trigger his £15.75 million release clause.However, the 24-year-old, who has also been heavily linked with Barcelona, has now rubbished such reports.Read the full story on Goal right here! Barca in Brazil to negotiate with Arthur
Barcelona have sent a delegation to Brazil to negotiate the signing of Arthur from Gremio, according to Mundo Deportivo .The midfielder has long been on Barca’s wanted list, and the club have already agreed terms with the player.Real Madrid are prepared to sacrifice Gareth Bale in order to land top forward target Harry Kane, reports Don Balon .Bale has been in excellent form since recovering from injury shortly before the new year, and is Madrid’s top scorer in La Liga this season.But he could still leave the club in June, with a move back to Spurs a possibility if the Merengue seek out the London club’s star.
Gaming Fantasy Football: Four-goal Aguero leads Goal’s Fantasy Team of the Week Kevin DeVries Fantasy Football Writer 22:03 2/13/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Images Gaming Premier League Eden Hazard Kevin De Bruyne Mohamed Salah Sergio Agüero Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal Everton v Crystal Palace West Ham United v Watford Manchester City v Leicester City Huddersfield Town v AFC Bournemouth Newcastle United v Manchester United Southampton v Liverpool Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion Everton Leicester City Manchester United AFC Bournemouth Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal Crystal Palace Watford West Ham United Manchester City Huddersfield Town Newcastle United Southampton Liverpool Chelsea West Bromwich Albion Our Fantasy writer looks at the latest round of Premier League play and highlights the best performers from Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City and more We’ve now seen the back of match week 27 and it was another great one, filled with fantastic individual performances. Sergio Aguero stole the headlines with his four-goal haul against Leicester, whilst teammate Kevin De Bruyne notched a hat trick of assists.Meanwhile, Chelsea got crucial big games from Eden Hazard and Victor Moses, and Martin Dubravka had one of the greatest goalkeeping debut’s in recent memory.While many Fantasy owners will want to rush out and buy these players, it is probably the better part of valour to hold off for now. With Champions League matches happening midweek and FA Cup taking over at the weekend, plenty could happen before the next Premier League match on 24 February. While you wait for the next round, though, feel free to peruse our Goal Premier League Team of the Week. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player 
GK: Martin Dubravka – Newcastle – 1 Game, 4 Saves, 1 Clean Sheet = 9 PointsDF: Victor Moses – Chelsea – 1 Game, 1 Goal, 1 Clean Sheet = 14 PointsMoses showing up in the Team of the Week isn’t exactly a surprise as he currently sits as a top five defender in the Goal game. What was surprising about his performance on Monday was the goal as the Nigerian found the back of the net for just the second time this season. While he looked great this week, matchups against both Manchester clubs over the next two weeks should see most managers steer clear.DF: Ben Davies – Tottenham – 1 Game, 1 Assist, 1 Clean Sheet = 10 Points
DF: Aaron Cresswell – West Ham – 1 Game, 1 Assist, 1 Clean Sheet = 10 PointsMF: Eden Hazard – Chelsea – 1 Game, 2 Goals = 14 PointsIt has not been fun to own Hazard in the past as he tends to notch a lot of blanks, but even his biggest detractors cannot argue his recent form. In fact, only Sergio Aguero has scored more goals than Hazard’s five over the last five weeks. Those goals are certainly nice, but over that same stretch he also leads the league in chances created, so assists should be on the way as well. The next two matchups are tough but, if you’re a believer in Hazard, feel free to follow form over fixtures.MF: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City – 1 Game, 3 Assists = 11 Points
MF: Mo Salah – Liverpool – 1 Game, 1 Goal, 1 Assist = 11 PointsMF: Gylfi Sigurdsson – Everton – 1 Game, 1 Goal, 1 Assist = 11 PointsSigurdsson’s move to Everton has certainly not been as successful as he, Everton fans, or Fantasy owners would have liked. That having been said, the Icelandic just put in his best performance of the season thus far, notching 11 points in the Goal game. Whether or not he can turn Saturday’s success into a run of form remains to be seen but, regardless, it was nice to see a glimpse of what we know Sigurdsson can do.MF: Alex Pritchard – Huddersfield – 1 Game, 1 Goal, 1 Assist = 11 Points
FWD: Sergio Aguero – Manchester City – 1 Game, 4 Goals = 22 PointsWhat a performance this was! Not only did Aguero score four goals, but he scored all of them in the second half. He now boasts two of the top three weekly scores in Fantasy this season and has scored a ridiculous eight goals in the last five weeks. The Argentine does face a somewhat difficult stretch of fixtures, but anyone betting against City or Aguero has clearly not been paying attention this season.FWD: Steve Mounie – Huddersfield – 1 Game, 1 Goal, 2 Assists = 13 Points
Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
MLS Goal’s MLS power rankings: Toronto FC tops the field Ives Galarcep Last updated 1 year ago 00:56 3/3/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Tom Szczerbowski MLS Toronto Heading into the new MLS season, it’s no surprise to see last year’s MLS Cup champions sitting atop the pile The race for dominance in Major League Soccer is being led by one team, with 22 other teams try to figure out how to keep up with the Toronto FC juggernaut.The reigning MLS Cup champions finished 2017 as a team widely regarded as the best in league history, but enter the 2018 season with an even stronger and deeper team than last year. Coach Greg Vanney and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko made full use of the league’s increased allocation money resources to make improvements to an already stacked squad.TFC wasn’t alone in revamping. New York City FC made some good moves as well, while Atlanta United put together some of the biggest deals of the winter. There were considerable reconstruction projects as well, with Orlando City and the LA Galaxy looking like serious contenders after massive overhauls. Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player The Portland Timbers will be a top team to watch in the West, with new coach Giovanni Savarese inheriting a strong team as he looks to build on the foundation laid by Caleb Porter.Then there is league newcomer LAFC, which is poised to challenge the league’s best in year one. Bob Bradley’s team is set to make a big splash in its debut season, led by Mexican star Carlos Vela.Which of these teams, if any, will be able to dethrone Toronto FC? Here is a look at how Goal sees the league’s 23 teams stacking up at the start of the 2018 season.
Barcelona Messi would have won 50 Grand Slams if he played tennis – Rakitic Jamie Smith 22:27 6/2/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(3) 
Getty/Goal Barcelona Lionel Messi Friendlies Argentina World Cup Barcelona v Villarreal Primera División Ivan Rakitić The mercurial Argentine has dominated football pitches during an illustrious career, and a Barcelona team-mate says he would done likewise on a court Lionel Messi is such a dominant sportsman he would have claimed 50 Grand Slam titles if he was a tennis player, says Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic.Messi inspired Barcelona to a domestic double in 2017-18, with La Liga and Copa del Rey crowns captured, while the Argentina superstar’s goals ensured he won the Pichichi for the fifth time in his career.The forward is yet to win a major international honour, though, with Argentina having lost one World Cup final and two Copa America finals in the past four years. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Goalkeeper crisis! Walker to the rescue but City sweating on Ederson injury ahead of Liverpool clash Out of his depth! Emery on borrowed time after another abysmal Arsenal display Diving, tactical fouls & the emerging war of words between Guardiola & Klopp Sorry, Cristiano! Pjanic is Juventus’ most important player right now But Rakitic, also preparing for Russia 2018, suggested Argentina – drawn in Group D with Croatia – have a chance of going one step better than at Brazil 2014, despite Messi’s protestations they are underdogs.”As with all other team-mates that went to World Cup, I wished him all the luck,” Rakitic said to Croatian newspaper Vecernji list.”Of course, when you have the best player in the world, you are favourites, although he says they are not.”He’d give some titles with Barcelona for that one with Argentina. If Messi had played tennis, he’d have won 50 Grand Slams!”But you don’t play football by yourself, it is not an individual sport.”
There has been plenty of local media coverage of the 2014 Trans Tasman Series, which starts today in Mudgee. To view, please click on the links below. Home return for Lang: Mudgee product to shine in Australia opens debutTonight is going to a special occasion for Simon Lang in more ways than one.http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2239467/home-return-for-lang-mudgee-product-to-shine-in-australia-opens-debut/?cs=1611 Putting on the Australian colours an honour for first timers at Trans-TasmanPulling on your country’s colours is a special moment for any sportsperson and for a third of the players at this weekend’s Trans-Tasman Touch Football Series in Mudgee, they will do it for the first time.http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2239491/putting-on-the-australian-colours-an-honour-for-first-timers-at-trans-tasman/?cs=1611 The Magic Touch: Aussie and Kiwi sides ready for Trans-Tasman battleThe Mid-Western Region launches itself to an international audience again today as Mudgee hosts the 2014 Trans-Tasman Touch Football Series.http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2239465/the-magic-touch-aussie-and-kiwi-sides-ready-for-trans-tasman-battle/?cs=1485 Photos: Australia Touch Clinic in Mudgeehttp://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2238594/photos-australia-touch-clinic-in-mudgee/ Your Complete Guide to the 2014 Trans Tasman Serieshttp://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2235385/your-complete-guide-to-the-2014-trans-tasman-test-series/?cs=1611 National Squads head to Orange to put finishing touches on skillsFOR Australian mixed touch football coach Michael Lovett, bringing his team to Orange was a no-brainer.http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/2235998/national-squad-heads-to-orange-to-put-finishing-touches-on-skills/?cs=12 Video: 2014 Trans Tasman PreviewBen Harris and Darren Snyder discuss the upcoming 2014 Trans-Tasman Touch Football Test being played in Mudgee this weekend at Glen Willow.http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2238599/video-2014-trans-tasman-preview/?cs=1611 Trans Tasman Test Serieshttps://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n3/video/-/watch/22909640/trans-tasman-test-series/ Touch Training SessionTrans Tasman Touch Football fever has gripped the Central West.It started in Orange, where the Australian Mixed Team stopped over for a training session under the watchful eye of former Orange local, coach, Michael Lovett.https://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n3/video/-/watch/22880433/touch-training-session/ Related LinksTrans Tasman Coverage
Click here for more info on Bundaberg Cup, or to register: Bundaberg Cup 2019.Click here for accommodation and local attractions: www.bundabergregion.org/the-bundaberg-cup-2019 The turtles are epic! But there’s much more to Bundaberg North Burnett than magical marine life.From the stunning beaches to cruising down the Burnett River. The Australian Sugar Cane Railway, the Amandine Lavender farm and bushwalking (check out Burrum Coast National Park and the Aboriginal free-hand rock art in the Cania Gorge National Park). Like fishing? Think everything from tuna to barra and mud crab.Then there are Bundaberg Cup participant Scott Prince’s must-do activities: the Lady Musgrave Experience, a luxury day-tour cruise to Lady Musgrave Island) and Riverfeast, the Friday night food markets.Speaking of FOOD – that’s the best bit about Bundaberg. Princey fills us in on his five top eating and drinking picks…Best coffee: Alowishus Delicious Fuel your footy with their caffeine plus Alowishus Fritters: zucchini and sweet corn fritters with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, rocket and a poached egg.Favourite brekkie spot: Indulge CafeSeasonal food that’s sourced from local growers and suppliers.Best seafood: Grunske’s by the RiverFrom local fishermen, straight to your plate.Top spot for drinks: The BrewhouseFor the grown-ups, The Brewhouse is where all Bargara Brewing Company’s beers are made using 100% rainwater.Sweet treats: Nana’s PantryIf you’re on a health kick, grab some snacks from their bulk foods range to take to the fields. If you’re not, grab some gelato!
About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Tottenham striker Harry Kane: Borussia Dortmund going to be toughby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveTottenham striker Harry Kane is adamant they can go into their Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund full of confidence.The two teams will meet in the round of 16.Kane said, “Borussia Dortmund are a top side, great stadium, great support. It’s going to be tough. They are doing well this season in the Bundesliga and they look in top form. So it’s tough, but we know we’re capable of beating them as well.“We’ve had some good results in the Champions League especially away from home when you look at the likes of Real Madrid (1-1), Dortmund (2-1) and Juventus (2-2) last season and now Barcelona (1-1) this season. It’s good we’ve got that experience, we’ve been there and know how to get it done and now we need to use that again.“This is what we work hard for, to get through the group and into the knockout stage. We had one point after three games but dug deep to get through. Now it’s up to us to put in the performances home and away to try to progress further.” 
Hasenhuttl delighted as Southampton revival continues at Huddersfieldby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveSouthampton continued their revival under Ralph Hasenhuttl with a 3-1 win at Huddersfield Town.Nathan Redmond opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Danny Ings scored his eighth of the season from the penalty spot three minutes before half-time.Philip Billing pulled one back for Huddersfield in the 58th minute – just the fourth goal the Terriers have scored at home in the league this season – but 18-year-old Michael Obafemi’s first senior goal condemned them to a fifth straight defeat.Hasenhüttl was pleased by another clear sign of improvement and development under his stewardship.“If you look at the table you know how important the three points were because there are now three points between us and the club in 18th,” he reflected.“It was important against a team that was never giving up and we knew how tough it would be here to win. To win away is another step in our development and it was important to show ourselves we had the quality to do so.“We had the same shape as last week but we knew we would face more long balls. They were really uncompromising in defence, but also when we had our chances.“The first goal was perfectly played and I’m very happy for Redmond that he scored. I think with his quality it’s a perfect run, he has to do it a lot more often. I’m happy!” About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
Brighton striker Florin Andone hits out at managementby Paul Vegasa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveBrighton striker Florin Andone has hit out at management.Andone made a loan switch to Galatasaray last month.Speaking in the mixed zone after the Turkish club’s Champions’ League fixture against Club Brugge on Wednesday evening, Andone claimed, “We signed a lot players…and they had a lot of games, they could get to that level to play with confidence.”Why didn’t that happen with me? “I’m really disappointed with the club about this situation.” About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
About the authorCarlos VolcanoShare the loveHave your say Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo scoffs: There’s too many stupid peopleby Carlos Volcanoa month agoSend to a friendShare the loveJuventus star Cristiano Ronaldo scoffed at their critics after victory over Hellas Verona.He felt Juventus struggling to beat Verona was “only normal” after the Champions League efforts.“The referee didn’t give the penalty, it doesn’t matter, I thought it was a penalty,” Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia after a 2-1 victory.“The important thing is that the team won, we were tired after the Champions League, which is only natural after the travelling, the intense match in Madrid, but we were able to get it done.”Ronaldo was also asked about the gesture in the final minute of last week’s 2-2 draw against Atleti.“People like to talk rubbish. That’s all. There are too many stupid people.” 
About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say RB Salzburg star Szoboszlai: We go to Liverpool to winby Paul Vegas23 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveRed Bull Salzburg star Dominik Szoboszlai insists they can win at Champions League title holders Liverpool tonight.Szoboszlai scored in Salzburg’s 6-2 victory over Genk on Matchday 1 which took Jesse Marsch’s side to the top of Group E.He said, “They are a top team with an unbelievable coach leading them. [The Premier League] is one of the best leagues in the world now, without question.“We will do our best at Anfield and try to play for a win. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves.”We are a young, highly-motivated team with a lot of quality and good characters. That makes us very strong and unique. I’m sure that Liverpool is very much aware of that.” 
Penn State football may be receiving most of the attention on campus this weekend, but in our opinion, Nittany Lions basketball is the real winner in Happy Valley.Head football coach James Franklin is attending today’s basketball game against Purdue with none other than Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav. We’re a little disappointed by the rather subdued clock that Flav chose for the game, but we’re sure Penn State appreciates the support either way.YeeeaaaaahhhhBoooy! #PSUnrivaled #107kStrong @FlavorFlav pic.twitter.com/FwLtkIUJh4— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) January 17, 2015As it turns out, freshman guard Shep Garner is Flav’s cousin, which explains why he is in attendance.@EditorEdge @coachjfranklin My cousin shep garner #33 is point guard for Penn St I came to see him play so I think my choice is verry wise— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) January 17, 2015It sounds like Penn State basketball may have a real celebrity superfan emerging.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is no fan of tomfoolery – and that apparently doesn’t just go for anything social media-related. Sunday night, after his Spartans clinched yet another trip to the Final Four, Izzo had a message for his fan base regarding how to celebrate. He asked MSU supporters not to burn couches if the team wins next week – he wants Spartans fans to be “different” from the rest of the fan bases in the nation. He also said that they’re going to try to win a national championship. Check it out:
Students certainly rioted Sunday night after the win, but there weren’t too many couches seen burning. For some reason, the celebration of choice was to throw bagels in the air.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says that he is unconcerned by rivals Liverpool’s lighter schedule ahead of the Premier League title run-in.While the Sky Blues continue to challenge on four fronts, Jurgen Klopp’s men are only still in action in the league and the Champions League following early exits in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.Liverpool could therefore play considerably fewer matches as they look to protect their lead at the top of the table, but Guardiola believes the champions can still benefit from a busy calendar. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? The City boss further stated that he certainly does not intend to give up the chase in the FA Cup in order to boost their chances of retaining their league crown too.“If you play every three days, everyone is in rhythm, everyone is focused,” Guardiola told his pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s trip to Huddersfield Town on Sunday.“Sometimes when you have one week, 10 days off, the rhythm sometimes is wrong. So really I don’t know. If you win games and go to the quarter-finals, semi-finals of a competition, it is a huge excitement and everyone will be involved.“When I go out, it’s because the other [team] was better. We are not going to drop any competition. When Wigan last minute go 1-0 [in the FA Cup last season], ‘congratulations, Wigan’.“We were out of the cup and go to Abu Dhabi for five days, but we are not going to organise our schedule to go to Abu Dhabi.”Guardiola is similarly uninterested in the prospect of relying on rivals Manchester United to do City a favour and beat the Reds at Old Trafford next month.“We have to go to Old Trafford, too, and what you have to do is try to win there,” he said. “If United beat Liverpool, perfect. But if United beat us, the situation is the same.“What can we do for United against Liverpool? Nothing. I don’t have the telephone number for [United boss Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer, maybe I’m going to ask him but I don’t have it right now. What we can do is beat United when we go there.“But, before United, how many games do we have? We have recent experience of what happened against Leicester and Crystal Palace so it’s a big mistake to think about that when you want to compete in all the competitions and focus on what we have to do.“Before United v Liverpool, you can ask me again the question and I’ll tell you more clearly what the situation is [at that time], but there are many games for both sides before those games.” Check out Goal’s Premier League 2019-20 fantasy football podcast for game tips, debate and rivalries.
Giorgio Chiellini conceded Juventus’ first hour against Lazio was their worst performance of the season, but paid tribute to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for keeping them in the game.Szczesny made five saves in a brilliant performance as Juve overcame a poor display to win 2-1 on Sunday, extending their lead atop Serie A to 11 points over Napoli.The away side came from behind to score twice in the final 16 minutes, substitute Joao Cancelo netting his first goal for the club before earning the match-winning penalty scored by Cristiano Ronaldo two minutes from time. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Emre Can had earlier scored an own goal and it looked like Juve were on course for their first league defeat of the campaign, but the efforts of Szczesny, who made his best save from Marco Parolo in the first half, kept them alive before the fightback.”For 55 to 60 minutes it was certainly the worst Juventus performance of the season,” Chiellini said to Sky Sport Italia.”Wojciech Szczesny kept us afloat for an hour. Then we managed to fight back and win the game. It has to help us mature, because we have another big game coming up on Wednesday in the Coppa Italia with Atalanta.”THE COMEBACK!!!!! #LazioJuve #FinoAllaFine #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/HaWXiUS8lO— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 27, 2019Head coach Massmiliano Allegri, who brought Szczesny into his side as part of three changes, agreed with his captain Chiellini, who came on shortly before half-time to replace the injured Leonardo Bonucci.Allegri added: “Szczesny is doing very well, but we knew he was a great goalkeeper. I think the biggest leap forward he has made is in his focus over 90 minutes and confidence.”Leonardo Bonucci’s ankle is swollen, so we will see, but we have got Martin Caceres coming in. Miralem Pjanic will be back midweek.”We knew it was important to win after Napoli drew with Milan. I told the lads a win would be a step forward, even if we didn’t play that well.”Can’s own goal was part of a disappointing overall display from the former Liverpool midfielder, but Allegri took the blame for that.He said: “It’s my responsibility, as I tried to play with Emre Can in front of the defence and that was a mistake. He doesn’t have the right timing yet, so I put him in a very difficult position. I put [Rodrigo] Bentancur there instead and it went better.”We didn’t do well for the first hour, but the last half hour we did better. At half-time, I told the lads to pass it more cleanly, not make so many hasty mistakes.”The introduction of [Federico] Bernardeschi and Cancelo made us more organised. Those who come off the bench are essential.”The Lazio pressing game caused us problems, especially because our own passing was so misplaced. It felt like we were all wearing different jerseys in the first half.”It was a difficult match, but I’ve been at Juventus for five years and have never had an easy ride at the Olimpico against Lazio, so it wasn’t a surprise.”
Dorset Police have confirmed that detectives investigating the death of Emiliano Sala arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act on Wednesday.An unnamed 64-year-old man from the North Yorkshire area was taken into custody but later released and remains under investigation for potentially having a role in the untimely passing of the Argentine striker and pilot David Ibbotson in January.Sala, who had secured a move from Ligue 1 side Nantes to Cardiff City, was travelling from France to Wales on Monday, January 21 when the Piper Malibu aircraft carrying both the player and pilot went down over the English channel. Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? A concerted effort from several organisations saw Sala’s body recovered and identified in February, and investigations into finding out exactly why the plane crashed have been ongoing since.Speaking on behalf of Dorset Police’s major crime investigation team, Detective Inspector Simon Huxter said: “We have carried out a wide-ranging investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr Sala and continue to work with partner agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority.“As part of this investigation we have to consider whether there is any evidence of any suspected criminality and as a result of our enquiries we have today arrested a 64-year-old man from the North Yorkshire area on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act.”He is assisting with our enquiries and has been released from custody under investigation.”This matter therefore is still subject to a live investigation and I would ask the media and members of the public to refrain from speculation, as this could cause additional distress to the families involved as well as potentially hinder the investigation.”As is standard practice, we will not be releasing any further information as to the identity of the individual who has been arrested unless that person is charged to appear in court and again would discourage any speculation in relation to this.”The individual is not the first to have been detained in relation to events around Sala’s death, with Sherry Bray, 48, and Christopher Ashford, 62, both having been taken into custody in April due to their part in leaking mortuary photos of the sadly departed Argentine.Both will appear in court on July 10, with Ms Bray accused of three counts of computer misuse, perverting the course of justice and sending an indecent/offensive message, and Mr Ashford accused of six counts of computer misuse.
Mexico cannot play Argentina in every game, but it can play them in some games.Fans of El Tri, and even manager Tata Martino, have complained about the difficulty in finding top opponents for Mexico’s friendly matches when not taking part in major tournaments.But it will be a team from the game’s upper echelon for El Tri on September 10, with Argentina coming to the United States to meet Mexico in San Antonio’s Alamodome. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Martino, who is Argentine, coached the Albiceleste between 2014-2016, departing after falling to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario.He then returned to the club game, leading Atlanta United in its first-ever season and winning the MLS Cup the next year before taking over the Mexico job at the start of 2019.The September matchup will be the first time Martino coaches against Argentina since he led the team. He also came up against his native country when managing Paraguay, but that was before his stops with Argentina and Barcelona.Martino complained not only about opponents but also of field conditions for certain friendly matches taking place in the United States, and that may be a concern once again.The Alamodome typically has an artificial turf surface, though it has been overlaid with natural grass for soccer matches in the past. Currently on the schedule for the venue, a UT-San Antonio college football game on August 31 is the event taking place closest to the date of the Mexico match.Argentina will also play Chile on September 5 at the Los Angeles Coliseum during that same FIFA window. El Tri is likely to play another match in the September window, but it has not yet been announced.Mexico has a partnership with Soccer United Marketing to play a number of friendly matches in the United States each year. With the Argentina game, Mexico will have reached five after a pair of March friendly games and two Gold Cup build-up contests.Mexico also will be in action in October and November, taking part in the inaugural Concacaf Nations League. El Tri are in a group with Panama and Bermuda.
STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 11: head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches the team warm up before the first half of an NCAA football game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)Alabama head coach Nick Saban revealed a somewhat gross personal habit while speaking to reporters today. It’s really not something we needed to know.The 66-year-old head coach told reporters that he will take baths with ivory soap during the summer. That seems pretty normal.What’s not normal: where he takes them.Saban says he will take baths in the lake.Why?Because the soap floats.Saban said that his wife, Miss Terry, rightfully hates it.Nick Saban said he takes baths in the lake during the summer with Ivory soap “because it floats.”Said Miss Terry hates it.— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) June 7, 2018When you make as much money and have won as many national titles as Saban has, you can do whatever you want.Apparently, “whatever you want” is taking baths in a lake.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Tua Tagovailoa #13 celebrate after winning the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Nick Saban entered the season with two quarterbacks who could start for roughly 95-percent of college football programs. So far, for Alabama football, balancing Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts has worked out just fine.Tagovailoa is pretty clearly the No. 1 guy. He’s started every game for the 3-0 Tide so far.The sophomore has completed 72-percent of his throws for 646 yards and a fantastic 12.92 yards per attempt. He’s tossed eight touchdowns and is yet to throw an interception. He also has 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground.After a shaky appearance against Louisville, Hurts has also looked good. He’s played in every game, and has gotten into each first half this season.On the year, Hurts is 19-for-28 for 248 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He also has 61 rushing yards.Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts will both play once again for Alabama football against Texas A&M, Nick Saban says.He detailed his plan for Saturday’s game to ESPN‘s Chris Low:“It’s the same as it’s always been, to use them both,” Saban told ESPN on Thursday. “It evolves a little bit as you go. Our team has evolved. I can’t tell you exactly how it all will play out. It’s going to be whoever helps our team play the best, and they’ve both played a role in doing that.[..]“We needed both quarterbacks last year, and we’ll need them both again this year.”There had been rumors that Hurts was looking to redshirt, which would allow him to play a maximum of four games before preserving his eligibility for another school. If he plays against Texas A&M, he’s right up against that limit, and Alabama couldn’t then use him later in the year in the event of a Tagovailoa injury, without burning the shirt.Basically, it looks like Hurts is going to play in every game, unless someone challenges Alabama enough to warrant Tagovailoa playing for an entire game. No one has come even close so far.[ESPN]
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, it appeared that Penn State would defeat Ohio State in Happy Valley. Unfortunately, a late meltdown cost the Nittany Lions the game.It wasn’t just the fact that Penn State lost at home, it was the way they crumbled in the closing minutes. With the game virtually on the line, head coach James Franklin made an awful decision to run the ball with Miles Sanders on fourth down.Regardless of all the success Trace McSorley had against the Buckeyes, his coach kept the pigskin out of his hands.After Ohio State made the stop, it was only inevitable that Franklin would receive criticism for his play-calling ability. Out of all the critics, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum may have been the most harsh.From 247sports.com:“That was pure poppycock,” Finebaum said during Sunday’s appearance on SportsCenter. “Listen, they played well, but they had a total meltdown at the end of the game and he comes in without drivel. It has nothing to do with getting up in the morning, getting to class and has everything to do with that final play call. Own it. Don’t spin it. James Franklin is a very good football coach. He’s not a great football coach, nor is Penn State a great program, it’s very good and trying to get to that level.Clearly, Finebaum wasn’t holding back with his comments.For the second straight season, Penn State collapsed in the fourth quarter against the Buckeyes.Franklin is definitely doing a solid job in the Big Ten, as well as bringing the Nittany Lions to title-contending status. Nonetheless, his decision last night could haunt him for the remainder of the season.