Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin has warned Benfica to expect Diego Simeone s in-form side to go all out to try and secure the win needed to finish top of Champions League Group C.
Both Atleti and Benfica sealed progression to the last 16 on matchday five, with a victory over Galatasaray and a draw with Astana respectively.
The two sides are level on 10 points heading into Tuesday s clash, but Benfica only need a draw to advance as group winners by virtue of beating Simeone s men 2-1 earlier in the season.
However, Atleti have responded in some style to that defeat, embarking on a 12-match unbeaten run that has included nine wins and six in a row ahead of the trip to Portugal.
And Godin, who netted his first goal of the campaign in Saturday s 2…
Having won three Premier League titles in four years, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he would be prepared to step aside if the club s fans weren t happy with him.
These words from the Catalan tactician come as an answer to those of Kevin Parker, the general secretary of City s official supporters club, who said Guardiola doesn t understand the struggles of the fans to come to a midweek match after Guardiola expressed displeasure that the Etihad Stadium wasn t nearly filled to capacity during their 6-3 Champions League triumph over RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
I m so upset, I m grumpy, and disappointed this guy will pretend to tell me what I have to say, I know exactly my intentions. When the people are not happy with me, I will leave.
Pep Guardiola respon…
The Football Association have confirmed Ashley Cole will miss England s FIFA World Cup qualifier with Montenegro due to a rib injury.
Cole has withdrawn from Roy Hodgson s squad for Friday s fixture after picking up the problem during Chelsea s Premier League victory over Norwich on Sunday.
The experienced left-back will stay with his club for further treatment but could yet return to the national set-up for the home game against Poland next Tuesday.
Kieran Gibbs, who plays for Cole s former club Arsenal, has been called up as a replacement.
England will confirm their place at Brazil 2014 by winning their two remaining Group H fixtures.
In contrast to Cole, whose tally of 105 caps puts him among his country s most experienced players, Gibbs has only represe…
Pablo Hernandez is determined to make a battle of Rayo Vallecano s Copa del Rey second leg with Atletico Madrid despite a dismal run of results.
Paco Jemez s side were beaten 2-1 by relegation rivals Levante last weekend to leave them firmly stuck in a battle to escape the bottom three and they are now without a win since the home Copa clash with Getafe on December 2.
Atletico sealed a 1-1 draw in the first leg of this last-16 tie to give the Liga leaders a slight advantage heading into the return at the Vicente Calderon on Thursday, but Hernandez who scored in that Levante loss insists his side can make life uncomfortable for Diego Simeone s men.
Thursday is a nice game at the Calderon, in what is a tough week. This is the good thing about football, that after…
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Emerson Royal from Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to reports in the Spanish media. It has been reported by that Arsenal could sell Hector Bellerin at the end of the season, and as a replacement for the Spaniard right-back, they are looking to bring in the 22-year-old Brazil international.
has claimed interest in Emerson Royal from Arsenal’s bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Villarreal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are also claimed to be key on the 22-year-old.
Emerson Royal’s situation is a bit complicated. The right-back is co-owned by Barcelona and Real Betis and is on loan at the Andalusian club from the Catalan giants. The youngster has been at Betis sinc…
Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany has revealed he put up part of his own money to ensure the registration of Jules Kounde, after key players refused salary reductions.
The France defender arrived at Camp Nou ahead of the current campaign, but was unable to figure early on for the Blaugrana despite the activation of multiple financial levers.
Kounde was ultimately registered just before the transfer window shut, allowing him to make his competitive debut for Xavi s side, but the delay raised questions over why the club took so long.
Alemany revealed he and the rest of the club s board of directors were forced to stump up additional cash to ensure he could figure, hitting out at LaLiga s financial regulations.
With €867million [worth] of lever…
Stewart Downing was called into the England squad on Saturday ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro after Aaron Lennon was ruled out with a sore back.
England coach Fabio Capello turned to Aston Villa winger Downing after tests showed it would take Tottenham star Lennon several days to recover from the back problem that forced him to miss training on Friday.
Lennon, who has not played for England since the World Cup, has returned to Tottenham for further treatment.
He is the second player to pull out of Capello s squad for the Montenegro clash at Wembley on Tuesday after Everton defender Phil Jagielka was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Downing won the last of his 23 caps against Slovakia in March 2009. He featured in the squad for Eng…
Verdict: Liverpool to win and both teams to score
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After securing safety for another season, West Bromwich Albion will welcome the visit of Liverpool to the Hawthorns on Sunday lunchtime. Meanwhile, the Reds will be looking for the three points to keep alive their ambitions of finishing in the top-four this season and qualifying for the Champions League.
West Bromwich Albion
Tony Pulis has done a magnificent job for West Brom this season and managed to achieve the magical 40 point safety net with nine games left. However, since the Baggies earned the rights to play Premier League football for another year, they seem to have gone off the boil slightly. Eighth position is probably the best Albion can aim for this campaign a…
Andres Iniesta insists he would not be hurt if his former Barcelona team-mate Neymar joined LaLiga rivals Real Madrid.
Neymar left Camp Nou in 2017 after four successful seasons alongside Iniesta at Barca, which saw them win two LaLiga titles and the Champions League, to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222million.
The Brazilian superstar has consistently been linked with a switch to Madrid since his arrival in France and Iniesta – who left Barca to join Japanese side Vissel Kobe in May – would have no issues if such a move materialised.
It wouldn t hurt me because they are decisions that if they happen, happen, he told Cadena SER.
Madrid would reinforce themselves with a unique player.
Iniesta does not envisage Neymar …
Alan Pardew faces a frosty reception from Newcastle United supporters after taking charge as manager.
Chris Hughton s name will ring around St James Park for the visit of Premier League rivals Liverpool on Saturday, but the new man in charge has welcomed fans paying tribute to his sacked predecessor.
Newcastle supporters are still in shock at the unexpected departure of the popular Hughton, and unimpressed at his low-profile replacement, whose last job saw him sacked by third-tier club Southampton in August.
Protests similar to those when former manager Kevin Keegan left the club in 2008 are planned against multi-millionaire owner Mike Ashley, who has come under renewed fire from the stands after appointing a sixth manager of his turbulent three-and-a-half-year …