Blog (Page 229)

[ad_1] Mallorca fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona which sent the visitors to the top of La Liga’s table on Saturday evening. “Oh my God,” Mallorca’s manager Javier Aguirre gushed pre-game. “I’ve seen him on TV. It’s a good signing for the league.” Well, the arrival of Robert Lewandowski is certainly a plus for one particular La Liga side – and it wasn’t Mallorca as the prolific Pole proved the difference. The defensively stubborn hosts regularly sunk into a compact 5-4-1 off the ball, desperately trying to limit any space between the lines when Barcelona sauntered over halfway. Barcelona patiently proddedRead More →

[ad_1] He’s come in for plenty of stick during his time in Fort Lauderdale but, right now, Gonzalo Higuain is carrying Inter Miami to the MLS Cup Playoffs. The veteran Argentine striker scored the late winner in a vital 1-0 victory away at Toronto FC on Friday night, leaving the Herons on the cusp of sealing their post-season spot. It was Higuain’s 14th goal in 26 MLS appearances this season and his sixth in his last six games alone. A far cry from the player that arrived to so much fanfare in September 2020 after playing for the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, andRead More →

[ad_1] West Ham climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win against Wolves on Saturday, with Bruno Lage’s men replacing them in the bottom three. David Moyes’ side picked up their first home Premier League win of the season to ease their early woes and move to within three points of the top half. Wolves opened the evening with three decent chances, with Daniel Podence and Jonny Otto being denied by Lukasz Fabianski while Matheus Nunes flashed an effort across the face of goal. That ropey start seemed to spark life into West Ham, with Gianluca Scamacca twice going close for the hosts.Read More →

[ad_1] Colorado Rapids defender Drew Moor has announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2022 MLS season. The 38-year-old has spent 18 seasons as an MLS player, 10 of which have been with the Rapids. Moor has also represented FC Dallas and Toronto FC, lifting two MLS Cups, a Supporters’ Shield, and three Canadian Championship titles. Across his career, Moor has clocked up an impressive 434 MLS appearances. “This is a decision that I’ve been thinking about for the last couple of months now, and although I’ve been emotional about it at times, I think it’s time for me to step intoRead More →

[ad_1] Chelsea had substitute Conor Gallagher to thank for their low quality comeback win over Crystal Palace – his first ever goal for the club that he refused to celebrate against a team that did so much for him during an incredibly successful loan last season. Odsonne Edouard had given Palace an early lead that they deserved on balance, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cancelled that out with a goal on his first Premier League game since returning to English football from Barcelona last month. Palace were well drilled in their shape, with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise both disciplined in midfield out of possession but thenRead More →

[ad_1] Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte has said that Emerson Royal needs to ‘exploit this situation’ and learn from his mistakes after he was sent off in Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Arsenal. Spurs went behind in the derby to a Thomas Partey strike before a Harry Kane penalty saw them go into half-time on level terms. However, Gabriel Jesus put the hosts back in front on the other side of the break, and Tottenham’s day was made all the more difficult when Emerson was shown a red card for a challenge on Gabriel Martinelli’s Achilles. Granit Xhaka scored the final goal of the day soonRead More →

[ad_1] Manchester United and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw in the Continental Cup group stage early on Saturday afternoon, with Villa eventually taking the bonus point on offer in the penalty shootout thanks to four saves from goalkeeper Anna Leat. Villa named a strong side at the Bescot Stadium following their impressive start to the WSL season, although an element of rotation from Carla Ward still saw Leat replace England international Hannah Hampton, as well as chances go to Emily Gielnik, Olivia McGloughlin and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. United boss Marc Skinner made as many as nine changes for this one, with only Ona Batlle,Read More →

[ad_1] Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema will go straight back into the club’s starting XI against Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday night after recovering from injury. Benzema missed games against Mallorca, RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid last month because of a muscle problem and was also ruled out of international duty with France. But the 34-year-old, who was also presented with his first career Pichichi Trophy this week, resumed training on Wednesday after already working hard on his fitness in the gym and at home. “Benzema is doing very well, he’s going to start the game,” Ancelotti said atRead More →

[ad_1] Tottenham winger Lucas Moura has spoken highly of Sevilla and his interest in playing in La Liga. Lucas, who played a starring role as Spurs reached the 2019 Champions League final, has entered the final two years of his contract in north London and was out of favour even before a calf injury that has ruled him out of action since August. The Brazilian only played 12 minutes across Spurs’ first two Premier League games of the season, with no natural position for him in Antonio Conte’s preferred system and Dejan Kulusevski consistently getting the nod in support of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.Read More →

[ad_1] Paris Saint-Germain advisor Luis Campos has claimed the French side made a mistake by spending so much money on both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, given the pair’s similar playing styles. Both are enjoying outstanding individual seasons on the pitch – Neymar has 11 goals and eight assists from 11 games, while Mbappe has ten goals in nine outings – but things are not believed to be quite as rosy behind the scenes. Numerous reports from France have accused the pair of clashing on a number of occasions, while Mbappe has even admitted that his relationship with Neymar is ‘hot and cold’. Now, Campos hasRead More →