Ligue 1: Saint Etienne Vs Ajaccio - Betting Tip Here is an extremely tricky game to manage for St-Etienne’s coach. The Greens won the Coupe de la Ligue on Saturday after their 1-0 win over Rennes. Even though this is not the most prestigious title to win, the team have been celebrating as if they won the Ligue 1 with their fans as they came back in town. This historical club was running after a title since 32 years. But this title didn’t give then any European ticket so they will have to show a lot of professional to get back to work immediately.
The home side is in 5th position of the Ligue 1 table with 54 points. If they win this game, they would steal Nice’s 4th spot, which is their objective to get at least a Europa League ticket. They lost just one game in 2013, which was in the Coupe de
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Category: Betting Tips Views: 2037 Added: BetterDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:49
Messi defends decision to play Lionel Messi has admitted that he did not feel '100 per cent comfortable' in the devastating 4-0 defeat by Bayern Munich.
The Argentina international had not featured for Barcelona since making a rapid return from a hamstring strain to lead his side into the last four at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain on April 10.
Messi appeared to be struggling physically at one point in the second half, but he dismissed the suggestion that he should not have been risked in the first leg.
"It was some days since I played and I didn't feel 100 per cent comfortable but I was not injured, so I could play," the 25-year-old said.
Category: News Views: 931 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:49
Bayern thrashing Barcelona a ´dream´ Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge could not contain his delight after watching his side cruise past Barcelona.
The newly-crowned German champions produced a solid defensive display and combined it with some scintillating attacking moves that went a long way to sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League final.
Two goals from Thomas Muller plus second-half strikes from Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben secured the victory for Bayern and Rummenigge admitted he felt like he was in a dream watching the performance from the stands.
"We won 4-0 against the best team in the world," he told Sky Deutschland. "That is like a dream here tonight.
Category: News Views: 881 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:46
Mather succeeds Green at Rangers English businessman Craig Mather has been appointed interim chief executive of Rangers, replacing Charles Green.
Green, who took over as Ibrox chief executive in May 2012, announced his departure on Friday and is now the subject of an investigation ordered by the club's board regarding links to former club owner Craig Whyte.
Mather purchased a 10 percent share of the club last July, and has now been given a place on the Rangers board.
The 43-year-old, a former semi-professional footballer, owns a sports management firm and has interests in horse racing.
Mather said his decision to invest in the Glasgow c
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Category: News Views: 870 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:45
Miyaichi appreciative of Wigan loan spell Ryo Miyaichi has spoken of the benefits of his loan spell with Wigan following his return to parent club Arsenal.
The Japan international moved to the DW Stadium on a season-long deal at the start of the campaign, but was forced to return to the Emirates Stadium after picking up an ankle injury.
And, despite having made just seven appearances in total for Wigan, Miyaichi says he is thankful for the opportunity.
"They have a good attitude and a good philosophy for football," he told Arsenal's official website. "The manager [Roberto Martinez] is a very good man and it was a very good experience for me.
Category: News Views: 778 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:43
Ronaldinho edges ahead of Kaka in Confederations Cup race Ronaldinho will once again captain Brazil in their friendly against Chile on Wednesday.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed he will hand the armband to the 33-year-old for the clash against their South American rivals in Belo Horizonte, which is Brazil's final game before hosting the Confederations Cup in June.
As was the case with last month's 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia, only Brazilian-based players are available for Wednesday's match - meaning Ronaldinho has another chance to play his way into Scolari's plans just 12 months before the World Cup.
Scolari has already admitted he is likely to select just one of Ronaldinho or Kaka for the World Cup-dress rehearsal tournament and the Atletico Mineiro
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Category: News Views: 923 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:41
Baines is the ´key cog´ for Everton - Howard Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has described team-mate Leighton Baines as the "key cog" in David Moyes' tactical setup.
The England international has enjoyed a stand-out season for the Merseyside club and leads the Premier League chance creation charts having carved out 105 opportunities from left-back.
When asked if Baines was unfortunate to miss out on a PFA Player of the Year award nomination as a result, Howard told the club's official website: "I think that's right.
"But with Bainesy at left-back position, it's not a glamour position and I think it's hard sometimes to see just how effective he is.
"He's our key cog. We've got [Marouane] Fellaini and [Steven] Pienaar and those guys, and obviously Kevin M
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Category: News Views: 833 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:39
Madejski insists Reading survival bid not over Reading chairman John Madejski says he has not yet given up on the club's fight for Premier League survival. The Berkshire side are rooted to the bottom of the English top flight, 10 points from safety, with just four league fixtures remaining this season.
But the 71-year-old insists that anything is possible in football.
"It's not over until the fat lady sings and she's not singing just yet," he told the club's official website.
"Of course it would take something very special indeed for us not to be playing in the Championship next season. Funny things happen in football and if I don't have the belief as chairman then how can I expect anyone else to have it? So I'd never condemn Reading until anything is confirm
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Category: News Views: 656 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:37
Vlaar urges Aston Villa to repeat Old Trafford second half Aston Villa can take heart from their second-half performance against Manchester United on Monday night.
That is the view of captain Ron Vlaar, who has insisted there were positives for relegation-threatened Villa to take from their 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Robin van Persie fired United to the Premier League title with a first-half hat-trick, but Paul Lambert's men played well in the second 45 minutes - a response Vlaar believes should stand them in good stead for their vital relegation clash with Sunderland next Monday.
Speaking to the club's official website, the 28-year-old said the fact his team did not capitulate in the manner of their 8-0 thrashing at Stamf
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Category: News Views: 670 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 17:35
Champions League: Dortmund Vs Real Madrid - Betting Tip Borussia Dortmund Vs Real Madrid - This semi-final of the Champion League is a bit weaker than one that is on the schedule a day before, although there are no doubt we will see two great matches. However, Borussia is in Bayern’s shadow in Bundesliga and Real in Barcelona’s in La Liga and because of that fact, this semi-final is a weaker one. Borussia and Real have already met in the group stage and then the German team showed a lot more, and consequently won in Dortmund with 2-1, while in Madrid the game ended 2-2. These two teams played against each other in 2003 and then it was 1-1 in Dortmund. Last weekend both teams achieved routine home wins in domestic championships. Begins: 24.04.2013 – 20:45 CET
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Category: Betting Tips Views: 2443 Added: BetterDate: 24.04.2013 - 13:59
Champions League : Dortmund - Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp insists that his team is ready and raring to go for their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Dortmund scraped through to the last four of Europe's most prestigious club competition after scoring two late goals to beat Malaga 3-2 and they were far from at their best against Mainz at the weekend, despite running out 2-0 winners.
But Klopp says that Dortmund, who have failed to defend their Bundesliga title this season, are ready for the first leg at the Westfalenstadion.
"We're playing against the biggest club in the world, we will be ready for Real and give it everything we have," said Klopp.
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Category: News Views: 1063 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:27
Champions League: Bayern Munich 4:0 Barcelona Bayern Munich grabbed a strong hold of their UEFA Champions League semi-final with Barcelona thanks a 4-0 first-leg victory at the Allianz Arena.
The German side took the lead as Thomas Muller pounced upon some ponderous Barca defending to nod home, while Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben's solo effort put the gloss on the result before Muller's second made it a rout.
Lionel Messi was declared fit for the game and named in the Barcelona starting line-up alongside 22-year-old defender Marc Bartra. For the hosts, Jupp Heynckes opted to field Gomez in place of the suspended Mario Mandzukic.
Bayern started the game well and tested Victor Valdes in the opening five minutes with a
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Category: News Views: 927 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:20
Giroud loses red card appeal Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has had his appeal for wrongful dismissal rejected by the Football Association and he will serve a three-match ban.
The Frenchman received a straight red card from referee Andre Marriner for an over the ball challenge on Fulham's Stanislav Manolev.
Arsenal appealed the decision but after an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Tuesday it was decided the decision should stand.
The former Montpellier forward has scored 11 goals for Arsenal this season since his 13 million pounds transfer in the summer.
Category: News Views: 873 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:16
Ferguson: We are ´far better´ than City Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes his side are superior to rivals Manchester City.
City manager Roberto Mancini had claimed that United were on par with his side, a point seemingly vindicated in the club's 2-1 away win at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.
But fresh from securing United a 20th league title following a 3-0 rout of Aston Villa on Monday, Ferguson hit back at his Italian counterpart, arguing United's consistency across the season demonstrates a gulf between the teams.
"In the games between the two sides there has been nothing in it," Ferguson said.
Category: News Views: 952 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:13
Kone ready for relegation battle Arouna Kone believes Wigan Athletic will benefit from a full week of preparation when they face Tottenham this weekend.
Kone, an August arrival from Levante, has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season but Roberto Martinez's side remain in the bottom three with five games remaining.
Wigan have faced a hectic schedule in recent weeks thanks to their success in the FA Cup and the striker is glad to be able to rest ahead of the meeting with Spurs.
"It’s a big week," he told the club's official website.
"[We have] to mix rest with hard work and be physically
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Category: News Views: 855 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:08
McClean hails Sunderland support Sunderland winger James McClean has praised the club's fans for their support in Saturday's 1-0 win against Everton.
The Stadium of Light outfit won two matches in a row for the first time in 2013 on Saturday, following up a 3-0 derby win at Newcastle United with another success against Everton.
Stephane Sessegnon's first-half strike was all that separated the two sides as a crowd of more than 44,000 fans got behind Paulo Di Canio's side.
McClean, who has become a regular for the
club in recent times, was eager to praise the impact the supporters had in
helping him and his team-mates clinch the three points.
Category: News Views: 900 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:06
Fellaini wants strong Everton finish Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has called on his team-mates to finish the season strongly.
David Moyes' side lie sixth in the Premier League table and appear to have lost their chances of finishing fourth after a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.
They are now six points behind Chelsea - who are fourth and also have a game in hand - and with only the fifth-placed side qualifying for the Europa League this season due to the cup heroics of Swansea City and Wigan Athletic, continental football looks beyond Everton now.
Fellaini feels a packed fixture list was to blame for the Sunderland loss and urged the squad to
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Category: News Views: 730 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:04
Aston Villa must beat Sunderland - Lambert Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said his side have to beat fellow strugglers Sunderland if they are to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Speaking after Monday night's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, Lambert was quick to look forward to next Monday's relegation battle.
"We've got to win it," he told reporters.
"Sunderland are going well but it is an opportunity for us. We are at home. We know what we have to do and that's a good thing."
Villa were resoundingly beaten by a Robin van Persie hat-trick as United sealed their 20th title at Old Trafford.
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Category: News Views: 742 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:02
Blind eyes Ajax stay Daley Blind has signed a three-year contract extension with Ajax, the Dutch club has confirmed.
There had been suggestions that the full-back could leave the Amsterdam Arena as his current deal was set to expire in the summer.
However after negotiations with the Dutch outfit the 23 year-old has decided to extend his stay until at least 2016.
Club director Marc Overmars told the official Ajax website: "We have an agreement and everyone is very satisfied. Daley will play the next three years with Ajax.
"All doubts disappeared. Daley is a full international and at Ajax we hope this will continue."
Blind has made 63 Eredivisie appearances since coming throu
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Category: News Views: 739 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 01:00
Schurrle told to make his mind up Andre Schurrle has been told to make a decision regarding his future by Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser.
The German midfielder has been linked with a move to Chelsea,
with the club's director of sport Rudi Voller reportedly meeting for talks with the
European champions last week.
No deal has been agreed as yet however, and Holzhauser is
keen for Schurrle to make up his mind in order to allow the BayArena outfit to
make contingency plans.
He told German news agency SID:
"Last year, we had an enquiry, but it came very late. This time, it
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Category: News Views: 745 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 00:56
Liverpool captain Gerrard to receive testimonial Liverpool have announced that Steven Gerrard will receive a testimonial match this summer, with all proceeds going to charity.
The Merseyside club will face current Greek champions Olympiakos at Anfield on August 3. The Steven Gerrard Foundation is set to be the main beneficiary.
Liverpool's captain famously scored a last-gasp screamer against the Greek outfit in a 2004 UEFA Champions League tie, with the English side going on to lift the trophy that season.
"I am delighted to be honoured by Liverpool FC with a testimonial match and particularly thrilled that Olympiakos have accepted my invitation to play the fixture," Gerrard said.
Category: News Views: 723 Added: SkyDate: 24.04.2013 - 00:53
