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2013 April - Archive
Stoke City have been dragged into the Premier League's relegation battle, following a 3-1 loss at home to fellow strugglers Aston Villa. What was Stoke's loss doubled as Villa's gain, as the Birmingham-based club climbed out of the bottom three - moving to 33 points, three ahead of 18th-placed Wigan. Stoke are just one point ahead of Villa, and have won only one of their past 13 league outings, leaving them entrenched in a survival battle. Villa took an early lead at the Britannia Stadium through Gabriel Agbonlahor who opened the scoring to equal Dwight Yorke's record of 60 PL goals.
Arsenal's push for a place in next season's Champions League received a welcome boost on Saturday with a 2-1 win over West Brom. Clinical strikes either side of half-time from Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky inspired the Gunners to their third Premier League win a row. Despite their comfortable lead, Per Mertesacker's 70th-minute sending off and James Morrison's subsequent penalty made for a frantic finish. Arsenal managed to hold on, though, and their fifth successive victory at the Hawthorns sees Arsene Wenger's side move into fourth, with Chelsea and Tottenham not due to play until Sunday.
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World friendly game between 37th ranked Bolivia and 18th ranked Brazil. These two teams have met each other nine times before and Brazil has the best record with 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Bolivia with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in their last five games; their home record is 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in their last ten matches. Bolivia have played 11 World Cup Qualifier games; 2 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses. They have eight clean sheets home and have failed to score once at home soil. Both Marcelo Moreno and Carlos Saucedo have scored 3 goals each so far in the qualifiers. Brazil comes in to this game with 1 win, 3 draws and 1 loss in their last f
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Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata said a top-four finish in the Premier League is essential for the London club. The former Valencia midfielder joined the Blues while Andre Villas-Boas was in charge - with Rafa Benitez being Mata's third boss at the club in 18 months. The Spain international reiterated the importance of Champions League qualification, as well as urging his team-mates to push for the FA Cup and Europa League trophies this season. "If we can finish in the top four, after ending sixth last year, that would mean we have more consistency and is a step forward," he told The Guardian.
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Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben has set his sights on winning the Bundesliga title, Champions League and DFB Pokal this season. The Netherlands international missed out on the treble in 2009-10 when Inter Milan proved to be too strong in the Champions League final, before Bayern endured two title-less seasons. He is desperate to end their trophy drought, and is aiming to win every competition they take part in. "We have set our sights on three trophies. We want to win it all. And we have what it takes to do just that," Robben told Voetbal International.
Shandong Luneng consolidated top spot in the Chinese Super League with a late 2-1 victory against cellar-dwellers Tianjin Teda. Wang Yongpo made the breakthrough for Luneng, hitting the back of the net in the 30th minute on Saturday. Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu seemed to have snatched a point for Teda, when he netted an equaliser four minutes before the final whistle. However, Luneng broke Teda's hearts with an 89th-minute goal courtesy of Han Peng. Radomir Antic's men are now four wins from four this season, while Tianj
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The agent of Vasco De Gama defender Dede has confirmed AC Milan's interest in his client, but insisted an offer is yet to be made. The 24-year-old is believed to have courted the interest of some of Europe's leading clubs including Juventus, Benfica, Liverpool, Manchester United and Valencia. However, his agent Guilliano Aranda said Italian giants Milan have stolen a march on their rivals in their pursuit of Dede by establishing contact with the Brazilian club, but stressed that an official offer has not yet been tabled. "I believe there has been contact between the clubs and the Rossoneri's interest
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Reading remain anchored to the foot of the Premier League table after losing 2-0 to fellow top-flight new boys Southampton on Saturday. Jay Rodriguez's opportunistic strike gave the Saints a first-half lead, as Adam Lallana struck after the interval to condemn a dejected-looking Royals side that are now seven points from safety having played a game more than their relegation rivals. In a clash distinguished by the subplot of ex-Saints manager Nigel Adkins' first game against the club he recently led to back-to-back promotions, it was Southampton counterpart Mauricio Pochettino who had the final say, claiming a first away win at the helm of the club to lead them to 11th on the table, seven points clear of the bottom three with six games left
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Manchester United winger Nani is desperate to end a 'disappointing' season on a high. The Portugal international has made just 17 appearances for the club this term having been in and out of Sir Alex Ferguson's first team due to injuries and poor form. But after United saw their double hopes ended by Monday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea, the 26-year-old is hoping for a happier end to the campaign. "I think everyone has been a bit disappointed and a bit down after that day," Nani told the club's website. "Everyone expected
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Jaguares withstood a Guadalajara fightback to emerge 3-2 winners in the Liga MX at the Estadio Zoque on Friday. Colombian striker Luis Rey opened the scoring for Jaguares in the ninth minute before the advantage was doubled through Luis Lorona 30 minutes later. But Guadalajara fought back, scoring a crucial goal in first-half stoppage time through Rafael Marquez Lugo. The game heated up in the 65th minute as Marquez Lugo completed his brace and tied the scores at 2-2, with Guadalajara having all the momentum. But Jaguares substit
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Sporting Kansas City moved to second in the MLS Eastern Conference after a late goal secured a 1-0 win against DC United on Friday. Argentine striker Claudio Bieler struck the winner in the 89th minute, scoring his third goal in five games this campaign. Five yellow cards were issued between the sides during the match, which was played in front of 18,988 fans at Livestrong Sporting Park Kansas City, who have played one more game than league leaders Montreal Impact, jump to second position with a two-point advantage over third-placed Houston Dynamo, who have two games in hand.
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The German 1 Bundesliga football match between Hamburger (9th) and Freiburg (7th) kicks off on 06 April 2013. Hamburger has played 13 German 1 Bundesliga matches this season on HSH Nordbank Arena. On home ground Hamburger has won 7, drawn 1 and lost 5 matches. This ranks HSV 9th in home team performance in the German 1 Bundesliga. Freiburg has played 13 German 1 Bundesliga matches this season away from home. On away ground Freiburg has won 4, drawn 5 and lost 4 matches. This ranks the Breisgau-Brasilianer 6th in away team performance in the German 1 Bundesliga. When looking at Hamburger home performance in league points, Hamburger’s pe
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The English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion (8th) and Arsenal (5th) kicks off on 06 April 2013. West Bromwich Albion has played 15 English Premier League matches this season on The Hawthorns. On home ground West Bromwich Albion has won 9, drawn 2 and lost 4 matches. This ranks the Baggies 6th in home team performance in the English Premier League. Arsenal has played 15 English Premier League matches this season away from home. On away ground Arsenal has won 6, drawn 5 and lost 4 matches. This ranks the Gunners 5th in away team performance in the English Premier League. When looking a
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"მილანის” ახალგაზრდა ფრანგი თავდამსხმელი, მბაიე ნიანგი აცხადებს, რომ სურს, "მილანისათვის” მნიშვნელოვანი ფეხბურთელი იყოს, ამიტომ ბევრი უნდა იშრომოს. ამჟამად, "როსონერი” სერია ა-ს ცხრილში მესამე ადგილს იკავებს და მეორე პოზიციაზე მყოფ "ნაპოლის” ორი ქულით ჩამორჩება. "იმისათვის, რომ "მილანისათვის” მნიშვნელოვანი ფეხბურთელი გავხდე, ბევრი უნდა ვიშრომო. სეზონის მეორე ნახევარს დიდებულად ვატარებთ. მესამე ადგილზე ვართ, მაგრამ გვინდა, რომ მეორე პოზიცია დავიკავოთ. გუნდში ყველა ერთმანეთის მეგობარია”
საფრანგეთის მე-2 ლიგაში "ლე მანის” კარი "მშრალად” შეინახა გიორგი მაკარიძემ. ქართველი გოლკიპერის გუნდმა "ტური” 1:0 დაამარცხა და 33 ქულით ოც კლუბს შორის მე-18 ადგილზე იმყოფება. ცნობისთვის, საფრანგეთის მე-2 ლიგიდან სამი გუნდი ვარდება, ამდენად, "ლე მანს” მთავარი ბრძოლები წინ ელის. დანიურ სუპერლიგაში ქართველთა "ორჰუსი” "ესბიერგს” დაუხვდა და 0:1 წააგო. მასპინძელთა მაისურით დავით დევდარიანმა მოედანზე 75 წუთი გაატარა, დავით სხირტლაძემ შეუცვლელად ითამაშა, მათე ვაწაძე კი ტრავმირებულია და ცხადია, გუნდის განაცხადში არ ყოფილა. "ორჰუსს” 26 ტურში 33 ქულა შერჩა და მე-6 ადგილზე იმყოფება. გერმანიის მე-2 ბუნდესლიგაში ასევე დასარჩენად იბრძვის "ბოხუმი”, რომლის ღირსებასაც
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ესპანეთის პრიმერა დივიზიონის მორიგი ტური ერთობ შედეგიანი მატჩით გაიხსნა – „ლოს კარმენესზე" შეკრებილმა მაყურებლებმა 6 გოლი იხილეს. „გრანადას" სტუმარი „ბეტისი" იყო, რომელმაც მასპინძელი გუნდი 1:5 გაანადგურა. ანდალუსიელებმა მეტოქე გუნდს საქმე პირველი ტაიმის 4–წუთიან მონაკვეთში მოუმთავრეს – რუბენ კასტროს დუბლისა და ინიგო ლოპესის ავტოგოლის წყალობით, 3–ბურთიანი უპირატესობით დაწინაურდნენ და გამარჯვებულის ვინაობაც ცხადყვეს. მიუხედავად ამისა, „ბეტისი" არ ცხრებოდა და უპირატესობის გაზრდაც შეძლო – დორლან პაბონმა რუბენ კასტროს პასით ისარგებლა და ხელსაყრელი პოზიციიდან იოლად აიღო მასპინძელთა კარი. რამდენიმე წუთში, „გრანადამ" კარლოს არანდას გოლის წყალობით ანგარიშში სხვაო
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Inverness missed the chance to put pressure on Motherwell when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by St Johnstone on Friday. Terry Butcher's side could have pulled level with second-placed Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League table, but instead they sit two points behind - with Motherwell having a game in hand - after playing out their third draw with St Johnstone this season. Chances were few and far between in the first half, with Algerian midfielder Mehdi Abeid wastng a chance early for St Johnstone, while Inverness Welshman Owain Tudur Jones forced a good stop from Alan Mannus at the other end.
Club Brugge closed to within four points of Belgian First Division leaders Anderlecht thanks to a 4-1 win at Lokeren on Friday. In just their second game since the split of the Belgian league into their play-off groups, Brugge fell behind early at the Daknamstadion when Benjami Mokulu Tembe fired the hosts ahead 13 minutes in. But Juan Carlos Garrido's men hit back seven minutes before the break through Maxime Lestienne and when Costa Rican defender Oscar Duarte netted in first-half stoppage time, the visitors headed for the change rooms in the ascendancy. A penalty from midfielder
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Hoffenheim gave their prospects of avoiding relegation a boost with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday. Entering the weekend second last on the Bundesliga table and still nine points from safety and four off the relegation play-off spot, Hoffenheim were desperate for a win in new coach Markus Gisdol's first match at the helm. They made an excellent start to proceedings, with Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino giving them the lead 11 minutes in, and they led by that goal at half-time. They had to wait until the 75th minute to extend their lead, thanks to an Andreas Lambertz own goal, and Kevin Volland completed the scoring in the 94th minut
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Marseille have closed to within four points of Ligue 1 leaders PSG thanks to a 1-0 home win over Bordeaux on Friday. Needing a win to keep the pressure on the big-spending frontrunners, Elie Baup's side had to battle for the three points at the Stade Velodrome. Andre-Pierre Gignac's 41st-minute goal was the difference between the two sides. The 27-year-old French international latched onto a through ball from Benoit Cheyrou before firing past Cedric Carrasso in the Bordeaux goal. Gignac's 11th Ligue 1 goal of the season lifted his side to 57 points, while PSG - who have played one game less - still lead the way on 61.
Real Betis climbed to sixth place in La Liga on Friday thanks to a 5-1 thumping of relegation battlers Granada. Three goals in four first-half minutes - two of them from striker Ruben Castro - had the visitors cruising at Granada's Estadio Los Carmenes. Castro opened the scoring in the 30th minute after latching onto Alvaro Vadillo's pass and firing a low shot past Tono in the Granada goal, and he was on hand to score the second two minutes later. Dorlan Pabon's thunderous shot came down off the crossbar and Castro thumped the ball into the net. It was 3-0 moments later when Paulao headed off Tono's crossbar an
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Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has singled out goalkeeper David Gea for special praise following an impressive season to date. De Gea, 22, endured a difficult start to his Old Trafford career following a 17.8 million-pound move from Atletico Madrid in 2011, with inconsistent displays leading to speculation over his future as the club's first-choice shot-stopper. However, as the club's defensive problems earlier this season diminished the Spaniard's form also improved and Ferguson believes the player will only continue to get better. "(The defence) have all improved," Ferguson said.<
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Martin O'Neill feels he should have been given more time at Sunderland after helping them avoid relegation last season. The 61-year-old's tenure at the Stadium of Light lasted 15 months before a 1-0 home defeat to league leaders Manchester United last Saturday left the club just a point off the relegation zone. O'Neill was dismissed later that evening, with Paolo Di Canio appointed as his successor 24 hours later, and the former boss said he did not deserve to be dismissed. "I am still pretty disappointed, frustrated as much as anything else but life goes on," O'Neill told the BBC.
Martin Jol says Fulham have offered a new contract to veteran Mark Schwarzer but are also looking at other goalkeepers. Schwarzer, 40, has been in fine form for Fulham, keeping seven clean sheets so far this season as the club look to secure a top-half finish in the English Premier League. The Australia international's deal is set to expire at the end of the season, prompting speculation over his future at Craven Cottage. Fulham have previously been linked with a move for FC Twente's Nikolay Mihaylov, but the Cottagers' manager Jol has said the Bulgarian is no longer a target. "I don't deny that we are looking for a goalkeeper," Jol said. <
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Antonio Conte has called for Juventus to demonstrate their passion against Pescara as they close in on a second successive title. Pescara sit bottom of Serie A and have lost 10 of their last 11 matches, a slump which shows no signs of ending in Turin on Saturday. Despite being overwhelming favourites to collect all three points, Conte wants his players to be at their absolute best after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday. "I want to see my players foaming at the mouth," Conte said. "Tomor
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Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended David Beckham's performance against Barcelona in the Champions League. January signing Beckham started in the 2-2 draw at home to Barca on Tuesday before being replaced by Marco Verratti after 75 minutes. Ancelotti, who coached Beckham at AC Milan, was pleased with the former England captain's performance and dismissed suggestions he was forced to play him by the club's owners. "Beckham had a very good game - he applied the strategy that I implemented," Ancelotti said. "I d
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes captain Steven Gerrard still has "a few good years left in him yet". The 32-year-old midfielder has one year left on his contract but Rodgers would not be drawn on the possibility of a new deal being negotiated. Rogers likened the Anfield captain to Italian veterans Cristiano Zanetti and Andrea Pirlo, and said his priority was to keep Gerrard at the club. "That's something that's private between Steven and I and the club," he said when asked about contract talks. "There's no doubt that i
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Tottenham's Gareth Bale is expected to be out for two weeks after spraining his ankle ligaments against Basel on Thursday. The Wales international was stretchered off at White Hart Lane after his right ankle buckled under an innocuous challenge from David Degen late in Spurs' 2-2 draw with the Swiss visitors. Tottenham, who lie third in the English Premier League, face a crucial fortnight in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, with a clash against sixth-placed Everton coming up on Sunday. Bale is expected to miss this weekend's game, along with the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Basel on Thursday, before hopefully returning for the visit of Manchester City on April 21.
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