Soccer Agent | Cristiano Ronaldo Targets Win In His 100th Portugal Appearance

THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS – Cristiano Ronaldo, a master soccer agent in scoring goals, has his eyes set on a win in his 100th cap for Portugal when he and his national side host Northern Ireland this coming Tuesday.

Ronaldo is ready to play against the Northern Irish squad for the World Cup qualifiers, despite a shoulder injury that afflicted him as he played past through rival Barcelona with Real Madrid in last week’s La Liga El Clásico.

Known for being massively successful in club football, Ronaldo has yet to experience ultimate glory in the international level – his closest being Portugal’s EURO 2004 defeat against Greece in the final.

Photo credits:

Cristiano Ronaldo [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 16 October 2012, from <http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2012-06-08/flick-warns-germany-over-ronaldo-threat/>

Villa's late winner lifts Barca 3-2 over Sevilla

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — David Villa scored in injury time after Cesc Fabregas netted a brace to give Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against 10-man Sevilla on Saturday, equaling the Spanish pacesetter's best league start ever with six straight wins.

Photo: AP Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, right, and Sevilla's Emir Spahic from Croatia, left, fight for the ball during their La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, in Seville, Spain on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

For 89 minutes, Sevilla looked set to repeat its feat from two weeks ago when it edged out Madrid with a similar defensive effort and counterattacking style. Piotr Trochowski, who netted the winner against Madrid, opened for Sevilla in the 26th minute, and Alvaro Negredo doubled the host's advantage three minutes after halftime after a miscue by Barcelona's defense.

Five minutes later Fabregas scored from long range to start Barcelona's rebound, but Sevilla held firm until midfielder Gary Medel was shown a direct red for head-butting Fabregas in the 72nd. Barcelona pressed its advantage and Fabregas took Lionel Messi's pass inside the area and toed his shot by goalkeeper Andres Palop before the defense had time to close, leveling the score one minute from time.

Messi, frustrated early on in his attempts to score, then teed up Villa's winner three minutes into added time. The late substitute took Messi's pass, used one touch to open space and fired home to claim the win.

"We were never comfortable during the game, but when things got complicated we demonstrated our character," Fabregas said. Barcelona's victory gave it an 11-point lead over Madrid before it hosts Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. The two powerhouses are set to meet next Sunday at Camp Nou after their games midweek in the Champions League.

Also on Saturday, Malaga rose into second place after its 4-0 rout of 10-man Real Betis. Valencia beat Zaragoza 2-0 for a much-needed second win, and Real Sociedad downed 10-man Athletic Bilbao 2-0. Barcelona's perfect start comes in coach Tito Vilanova's first season after taking over from Pep Guardiola.

After three of its four previous six-for-six starts— the last of which came under Guardiola in 2009 — Barcelona finished the season by winning the league title. Barcelona's initial push included hints of what was due to come with Messi and Fabregas providing constant threats up front. But Michel Gonzalez's team soaked up the pressure and went ahead through Trochowski.

The Poland midfielder collected Medel's rebound off Javier Mascherano's foot and drove a hard strike under Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. "My players played a great game in front of a great rival," said Michel, who was sent off late for protesting. "My team knew how to take the game to our rivals and lasted almost half an hour a man down."

After halftime, Sevilla was perfectly poised to pounce on Sergio Busquet's erred pass in his own half. Medel intercepted and played it forward for Negredo, who rode defender Alex Song before floating an exquisite chip shot over Valdes.

Moments after Alexis Sanchez's volley was cleared off the goalline by backtracking Sevilla defender Alberto Botia, Fabregas struck for Barcelona when he scooped up a deflected pass at the top of the area and rocketed a strike into the lower left corner of the net.

"Once again, (Fabregas) played at an excellent level," said Vilanova. "He was really driven tonight. The first goal reflects that. He ran a lot and I hope we recovers well for the Champions League." After Sevilla was left with 10 men Vilanova sent on Villa in the 79th.
The closest Messi came to scoring was a free kick that Palop pushed off the crossbar. But Messi, whose playmaking is often overshadowed by his scoring feats, created the two late goals for Fabregas and Villa to shock the packed Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Villa has scored three goals in six appearance since returning from a broken leg that sidelined him for the second half of last season. "It is very good for Villa to score. It had been a long time since he had played as our striker," said Vilanova. "A few months ago it would have been unthinkable that he would be this well by now."

It was Sevilla's first loss of the season and broke a run of not conceding a goal for three consecutive matches. Also on Sunday, it's: Granada vs. Celta Vigo; Valladolid vs. Rayo Vallecano; Osasuna vs. Levante; and Espanyol vs. Atletico Madrid.
Mallorca visits Getafe on Monday.

Rosenborg seek upturn in Leverkusen fortunes

Rosenborg BK will look to improve on their previous meetings with Bayer 04 Leverkusen as the sides come face to face again in UEFA Europa League Group K.

Rosenborg BK will look to put their past meetings with Bayer 04 Leverkusen down to experience as the teams meet again in UEFA Europa League Group K.
Previous meetings
• Jupp Heynckes' Leverkusen beat a Rosenborg side coached by Nils Arne Eggen 4-0 at home and 1-0 away in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League group stage.
• The teams for their first meeting on 16 September 2010, when Patrick Helmes scored a hat-trick at the BayArena, were:

Leverkusen: Adler, Schwaab*, Reinartz*, Hyypiä, Friedrich*, Bender* (Balitsch 67), Helmes, Sam*, Derdiyok (Vida 78), Castro* (Barnetta 78), Jørgensen.
Rosenborg: Örlund*, Lustig, Dorsin*, Annan, Bjärsmyr, Strand (Sare 56), Demidov, Iversen* (Trond Olsen 79), Skjelbred, Markus Henriksen (Jamtfall 72), Prica*.
• The teams for the return fixture in Trondheim on 1 December 2010 were:
Rosenborg: Örlund*, Lustig, Dorsin*, Annan, Bjärsmyr, Moldskred, Demidov, Iversen*, Skjelbred, Markus Henriksen, Prica*.
Leverkusen: Giefer, Reinartz*, Hyypiä, Friedrich*, Bender*, Helmes (Castro* 85), Balitsch, Vida, Sam* (Kaplan 68), Kadlec*, Jørgensen (Derdiyok 76).
* registered to play in 2012/13
• Sami Hyypiä, who is now in the dug-out at Leverkusen, played in both games.
Match background
• The games against Rosenborg represent all of Leverkusen's experience of Norwegian opposition.
• Rosenborg have played ten matches against German sides with the record W1 D3 L6 (W0 D2 L3 in Trondheim – W1 D0 L4 in Germany). They have not won in their last eight outings against Bundesliga opponents.
• Rosenborg and FC Twente are the only clubs who have battled their way to the group stage from the first qualifying round. The Norwegian side are unbeaten in nine European games in 2012/13 – five wins and four draws. They have not lost in five European home encounters – two wins and three draws.
• Rosenborg have been in this group stage on two previous occasions, but failed to reach the round of 32 in both 2008/09 and 2010/11.
• Leverkusen have not won in five European away games, a run comprising a draw and four defeats – including a 7-1 loss at FC Barcelona in last season's UEFA Champions League round of 16.
• Leverkusen are engaged in their fourth group stage campaign in this competition, and have never failed to progress to the round of 32.
Team facts
• Twente's Leroy Fer and Rosenborg's Czech forward Bořek Dočkal were the highest scorers in qualifying with six goals each.
• Rosenborg defenders Tore Reginiussen (FC Schalke 04) and Jon Inge Høiland (1. FC Kaiserslautern) have both played for German clubs, as has striker Rade Prica (FC Hansa Rostock).
• Rosenborg coach Jan Jönsson was a midfielder at Halmstads BK in his native Sweden from 1978-92, before moving to Japan, where he served as a player and assistant coach under Stuart Baxter at Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe. He took command at Rosenborg in 2011 following fruitful spells with Landskrona BoIS (2001-04) and Stabæk Fotball (2005-10).
• Team manager Hyypiä leads Leverkusen in collaboration with coach Sascha Lewandowski. Former Finland defender Hyypiä won the 2001 UEFA Cup and the 2005 UEFA Champions League during a ten-year spell at Liverpool FC, moving on to Leverkusen in 2009. After retiring in 2011, Hyypiä took up coaching roles with Leverkusen and Finland and stepped in – initially on a caretaker basis – after the Werkself sacked Robin Dutt in April 2012.

article source:http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/matches/round=2000356/match=2009936/prematch/background/index.html

League preview Football news: Olympiacos FC vs. Schalke 04 2012-2013 UEFA Championship

Schalke 04‘s  last UEFA Champions League  foray  took  them all  the way  to  the semi-finals and  they will be dreaming of reaching those heights again when they kick off a new campaign with an away game against Olympiacos FC.

Schalke lost out to Manchester United FC in the 2010/11 last four and will be eager to make a positive start in Piraeus.

Previous meetings

This is the second successive season in which Olympiacos have faced German opposition in the group stage; 12 months ago they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on matchday three.

The Greek club have enjoyed some remarkable home games against German teams, including a 6-2 victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League first group stage and a 4-0 defeat by Hamburger SV in the 1982/83 European Champion Clubs’ Cup second round.

In six home competitive fixtures against Bundesliga opponents there have been a total of 29 goals scored, Olympiacos winning four of those matches with two losses.

Match background
Olympiacos are in their 14th participation in the UEFA Champions League and will be hoping to at least match their feats of both 2009/10 and 2007/08 when they reached the round of 16.

Last year’s defeat of Dortmund followed a 1-0 home loss to Olympique de Marseille on matchday one. They also beat Arsenal FC 3-1 in Greece, and have won five of their last six home group games in the competition. They still finished only third in Group F last term.

Schalke are making their fifth appearance in the competition; in their four previous campaigns they were defeated on matchday one without scoring a goal, against Olympique Lyonnais (0-1 away, 2010/11), Valencia CF (0-1 home, 2007/08), PSV Eindhoven (0-1 away, 2005/06) and Panathinaikos FC (0-2 home, 2001/02).

The German club recovered from that Lyon loss to win seven of their next nine fixtures with the other two drawn. They finished first in their group before overcoming Valencia and holders FC Internazionale Milano in the knockout rounds but then came unstuck against Manchester United, losing 2-0 at home and 4-1 away.

Football news: Olympiacos FC vs. Schalke 04 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League preview | Football News http://www.football-media.net/2012/09/18/olympiacos-fc-vs-schalke-04-2012-2013-uefa-champions-league-preview.html#ixzz26sVoDwNT

Naughton keen on left-back spot

Kyle Naughton has declared himself the man to fill the void left by Benoit Assou-Ekotto ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Europa League opener against Lazio.

Tottenham is still waiting to discover how long left-back Assou-Ekotto will face on the sidelines amid fears he could be ruled out for up to a month.

The 28-year-old missed Andre Villas-Boas' first win in charge at Reading last weekend with a knee problem that may require a 'washout' procedure, ruling him out for around four weeks.

Losing Assou-Ekotto, who has barely missed a match in the last four seasons, would be seen as a blow to Tottenham's hopes of building on its opening Premier League victory this term.

Jan Vertonghen has filled in at left-back numerous times for Belgium but Villas-Boas decided to hand Naughton his full league debut for Tottenham at Reading.

Despite playing out of position, the 23-year-old proved up to the challenge at the Madejski Stadium and was hoping to have done enough to keep his place for Thursday's Europa League glamour clash against Lazio.

"It was great to get the three points and that the gaffer gave me a chance to show what I can do," he told his club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com

"I played at left-back a few times for Norwich [on loan] last season and hopefully now I can carry on playing.

"Towards the end, I was tiring a little and they got in behind us a little but the more games I play, hopefully the stronger I'll get.

"Everyone's been brilliant and I just hope I can carry on now and play in the Europa League."

The Group J match is Tottenham's first ever competitive meeting with Lazio, to which it famously sold Paul Gascoigne20 years ago.

The draw last month prompted the Italian giant to offer to invite the former England midfielder to the reverse fixture inRome on 22 November.

Press Association Sport understands the 45-year-old was also invited to attend this week's match but he was unable to accept for personal reasons.

Gascoigne has struggled to deal with alcohol problems since retirement but his agent said this northern summer that he had embarked on a health drive.

It remains to be seen whether he will attend the game between the sides at the Stadio Olimpico.

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas vowed to take the Europa League seriously ahead of his first match in the competition since winning it with Porto last year.

Harry Redknapp fielded a shadow side last term but Villas-Boas declared he would pick a 'strong team'.

"We want to do something special in this competition," he said.

"This competition is very important.

"It's a tough competition. You have to play 15 games before you reach the final, so it's hard and strenuous and the best teams out of the Champions League are playing.

"It gives access to the European Super Cup and, for me, I always thought it was a prestigious competition and it should be promoted like that because after the Cup Winners' Cup disappeared, it is not only about the Champions League.

"If we can win a trophy, that represents a lot for Tottenham Hotspur's history as well and would be something really special."

Lazio has begun Serie A with a hat-trick of wins and Tottenham's northern summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson said: "They are a good team.

"It's great to play in Europe and we're looking forward to that game, trying to get off to a good start.

"It will be important to get three points at home."

article source:  http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/english-premier-league/news/1121013/Naughton-keen-on-left-back-spot

Málaga look for calm as Zenit call

"Euphoria does not win matches," said Manuel Pellegrini as he looked for cool heads from his Málaga CF side in their tough Group C opener against Luciano Spalletti's FC Zenit St Petersburg.

 Manuel Pellegrini is looking to maintain calm at Málaga

Having famously led Villarreal CF to the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Manuel Pellegrini is embarking on a new adventure with Málaga CF in Group C but warned that only with hard work will they prolong their flying start to the season. As for visitors FC Zenit St Petersburg, their coach Luciano Spalletti is in no doubt that they are in for a tough test in Spain.

Málaga 
Coach Manuel PellegriniZenit are the most dangerous rivals because they are our next opponents. They are here as champions of Russia and nobody has given them anything on a plate. They are here with the same objectives as us. We will look to go out and win the game and if we manage that then we will look to win our second game in the group and edge closer to qualification. It is OK for our fans to be excited right now but my squad knows well that euphoria does not win matches. We have to work hard if we want this good run we are on to continue.

We have to be very careful against our opponents in this group because all of them are difficult. It would be a mistake to think one of them will be an easier game than another. Every match is different. The most important thing is to keep doing what we have done up to now. If we want to be successful then we have to fight and play in the same way that we have been playing. When I was at Villarreal nobody expected us to reach the semi-finals of Champions League.

Weekend result
Saturday: Málaga 3-1 Levante UD (Saviola 27, Joaquín 59, Portillo 90; Míchel 46)Caballero; Sergio Sánchez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal; Camacho, Eliseu (Dudu 82), Portillo, Isco, Joaquín (Recio 74); Saviola (Santa Cruz 69)

• Despite being reduced to ten men following Sergio Sánchez's late dismissal, Málaga continued their best-ever start to a Liga campaign and moved up to second. Javier Saviola and Francisco Portillo scored their first goals for the club either side of Joaquín's second-half strike.

Team news
Jérémy Toulalan has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Pellegrini said: "Toulalan will be a big miss for us but we hope he is back for Sunday's league game."

Zenit 
Coach Luciano Spalletti
I like what Manuel Pellegrini is doing, he is doing a great job. Last season was fantastic and he has started this season very well. We will only be able to discover Málaga's weaknesses if we play our best for the entire game. They have good, experienced players like Isco, [Martín] Demichelis, [Nacho] Monreal, [Ignacio] Camacho, Toulalan and Saviola. This team always tries to control the game. Málaga have a great squad but we don't envy them – we are strong too. A coach has to instil a winning mentality, but the team has to win once the game starts.

I think AC Milan are the favourites to win this group, even though they have lost two important players. Zenit, Málaga and Anderlecht are teams that can cause problems for Milan. I know how I will motivate my players to reach the next stage.

Weekend result
Friday: Zenit 0-2 FC Terek Grozny (Aílton 85, Lebedenko 90)
Malafeev, Yanbaev, Bruno Alves, Lombaerts, Anyukov, Fayzulin (Hulk 46), Zyryanov (Witsel 69), Denisov, Shirokov (Semak 78), Bystrov, Kerzhakov

• Zenit suffered their second consecutive home league defeat.

• Three newcomers (Renat Yanbaev, Hulk and Axel Witsel) made their competitive debuts against Terek.

Team news
Witsel (hamstring) did not travel to Spain and nor did defender Domenico Criscito and midfielder Sergei Semak. Spalletti explained that the trio "were not in the best condition, so they stayed at home".

Match fact
This is only Málaga's second season of European football but they already have an impressive unbeaten home record. In 2002/03, they played eight fixtures from the third round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, recording five wins and three draws. Add this season's 2-0 play-off success against Panathinaikos FC and they have conceded only three goals in nine home outings.

article source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2013/matches/round=2000347/match=2009500/prematch/preview/index.html

Fletcher submits transfer request

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher has asked to leave the club after Sunderland made a £12m offer for the player on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old

said on Twitter:

“Just handed in a transfer request just to let the fans know where I am at right now…. #headsgone.”

The Black Cats’ bid is thought to be close to Wolves’ valuation.

Fletcher’s former club Burnley will be due 15% of any profit Wolves make on a player they paid £7m for in 2010.

Wolves responded to the tweet with

a club statement:

“Wolves can confirm that Steven Fletcher has handed in an official transfer request.

“The player’s frustration stems from the fact that several bids have been rejected for his services, none of which meets the club’s valuation.

“As previously stated, no player will leave Wolves unless the club’s valuation is met.”

Sunderland are short of attacking options following the departures of Asamoah Gyan and Nicklas Bendtner.

Fletcher has two years remaining on his contract at Molineux, leaving Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey in a strong position to negotiate the best possible deal. O’Neill has made Fletcher, who scored 12 Premier League goals last season, his prime attacking target this summer.

No Sunderland player reached double figures in goals last season, with Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon the top-scorers with eight.

O’Neill believes Fletcher, who scored seven headers last season, will give Sunderland’s attack much-needed potency.

Fletcher has suffered Premier League relegations with Burnley and Wolves during the past three seasons, but his goals-to-games ratio is better than one in three.

No easing off now we are champions, pledges Cesc Fabregas

CESC Fabregas insists there is no chance of Spain easing off now they are record breakers.

The former Arsenal star was most pointed in the rejection of Spain being a boring side immediately after their four-goal UEFA League 2012 hammering of Italy in Kiev on Sunday night.

It certainly seems harsh to pick holes in a team that has just become the first to win three major international tournaments on the trot, including the World Cup.

And the manner of their performance in the Olympic Stadium, and the players responsible for it, does not offer much hope of any change.

Midfielder Xavi is the elder statesman of the outfield contingent. And, at 32, he still has plenty of miles in the tank.

Skipper Iker Casillas is 31 but in an era when goalkeepers often play at the highest level until they are approaching 40, that is hardly a problem either.

So, if a weakness is to be exploited by the teams eager to nick the World Cup from Spain's grasp at Brazil 2014, it may be mental, as players who have won everything try to keep themselves motivated.

But Fabregas has got some bad news for Spain's rivals. La Roja are not finished yet.

"Everyone thought we would be finished after we won the Euros and the World Cup," said Fabregas.

"They thought we might ease off a bit but here we are again.

"No-one has done the triple before and we are very proud of it.

"We are lucky to have had a lot of good experiences at a young age.

"Hopefully that and the success we are having now mean we will be stronger for those experiences when we're older."

Fabregas made a significant contribution to Spain's success, just not in the way he would have imagined.

An orthodox midfield player at Arsenal, in Poland and Ukraine coach Vicente Del Bosque discovered a new role for the 25-year-old.

In a team without a striker, Fabregas was the one asked to become a 'false nine'.

"It's the first tournament in my life that I have played as a striker," the Barcelona man said.

"It was difficult at the beginning but I got used to it very well and I am really proud of this."

- Simon Stone

Article source: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2012/other-news/no-easing-off-now-we-are-champions-pledges-cesc-fabregas-3155723.html

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LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS: MEN FOOTBALL SPORT

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: MEN FOOTBALL SPORT
26th of July, 2012 was the first day of the 2012 London Olympics Football for men, while it was the second day for the 2012 London Olympics football sport for women who had their first matches played on the 25th July 2012.

In 2012 London Summer Olympics, 16 nations are fielding men football teams mostly of players under the age of 23 with each team allowed to field 3 players over the age of 23 years. The 16 men teams participating in London 2012 are drawn from the following 6 confederation: Asia Football Confederation AFC, Africa Football Confederation CAF, Europe’s UEFA, North America Football Confederation CONCACAF, Latin America’s CONMEBOL and OFC which represents Australia and New Zealand.

Each of the six confederations has fielded the following men teams in the 2012 London Olympics, with UEFA and CAF each fielding 4 teams each, AFC and CONMEBOL has three teams each, while CONCACAF and OFC has a team each.

UEFA has fielded, host Great Britain, Belarus, Spain and Switzerland

Africa’s CAF has Egypt, Gabon, Morocco and Senegal

Asia’s AFC has Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea.

CONMEBOL has 3 teams in the 2012 London Olympics, namely Brazil, Honduras and Uruguay.

CONCACAF and OFC have only one representative each; Mexico for CONCACAF and New Zealand for OFC.

The teams were selected following confederations qualifying competitions of the U-23 players for the 15 teams in 2012 London Olympics with host needing no qualifications.

The 2012 London Olympics football sport will be held in 5 different venues. The venues for the 2012 Olympics football sports are, London’s Wembley Stadium, Old Trafford in the City of Manchester, Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium, St James’ Park in New Castle and City of Coventry Stadium in Coventry

source: http://ndasika.hubpages.com/hub/LONDON-2012-OLYMPICS-MEN-FOOTBALL-SPORT

Updated Score for UEFA Champions League

With domestic issues finished for both sides, Chelsea and Bayern Munich will go head-to-head in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Suspensions and injuries mean that neither side are likely to have anything close to their best XI on show.

The FA Cup winners finished 6th in the Premier League and will need to win to ensure Champions League football again next season.


Bayern Munchen-vs-Chelsea Score Board

1-0	2-0	2-1	3-0	3-1	3-2	4-0	4-1	4-2	4-3	5-0UP
0-1	0-2	1-2	0-3	1-3	2-3	0-4	1-4	2-4	3-4	0-5UP

This was the result score from 12bet.com

Bayern  Munchen vs. Chelsea, I guess since this two teams has the ability and are strong teams, we can’t picture out who will take the championship.

I guess by just simply looking back from their previous fight we can tell who can win.

If Chelsea are to win the Champions League then bookies favour them to do it within the 90 minute mark.

AZ Alkmaar vs Valencia CF football match preview

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 12BET odds AZ Alkmaar vs Valencia CF 3/29 2:45AM GMT+8

 

AZ are unbeaten in seven European home games this season, winning five times and drawing twice. The Eredivisie leaders have never lost to Spanish opponents at home. Their overall record in seven outings is three wins, three draws and one defeat. Jozy Altidore (pictured right) played for Spanish club Villarreal for three years between 2008 and 2011 and in November 2008 became the first American to score in La Liga.

Valencia have won just three of their 13 La Liga matches played in 2012. Los Che are unbeaten against Dutch opposition in 10 outings, recording four wins and six draws. Roberto Soldado has netted four times in his last three games for Valencia.

Marseille Vs Bayern Munchen football liga match preview

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 12BET odds Marseille Vs Bayern Munchen 3/29 2:45AM GMT+8

Olympique de Marseille have lost nine of their last 19 games at Stade Velodrome in the Champions League, drawing on three occasions. Midfielder Alou Diarra played for Bayern Munich's reserve side between 2000 and 2002, amassing 41 games. Olympique de Marseille have won their last two knockout ties against German opposition.

Bayern Munich have never played against Les Phoceens in an official game. The Bavarians have won three of their last four two-legged ties with French opposition. Daniel Van Buyten and Franck Ribery played for Olympique de Marseille in the past. In addition, Bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer had a coaching stint with the French side in 1990/91.

AC Milan Vs FC Barcelonafootball liga match preview

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 12BET odds AC Milan Vs FC Barcelona 3/29 2:45AM GMT+8

FC Barcelona Predicted Starting XI: Valdés, Dani Alves, Mascherano, Piquè, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Fàbregas, Messi, Iniesta, Sánchez

AC Milan Predicted Starting XI: Abiatti, Zambrotta, Nesta, Mexès, Mesbah, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Nocerino, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Ibrahimovic, El Shaarawy

Benfica Vs Chelsea football liga match preview

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 12BET odds Benfica Vs Chelsea 3/28 2:45AM GMT+8

Benfica had not suffered defeat in the league until they lost to Guimaraes in February. That match was the first of a run of three games without victory, including a 3-2 loss to Porto, who now top the table. Striker Rodrigo has bagged eight goals in the league for Benfica this season but scored just once in 17 matches while on loan with Bolton Wanderers from Real Madrid during the 2010-11 campaign. The Eagles overturned a 3-2 first leg deficit to progress past Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg in the previous round.

The Blues do have two former Eagles players in their ranks to help them out on the night. David Luiz and Ramires were teammates in Lisbon before joining Chelsea. Chelsea have not won away from home in the Champions League this season. They lost games against Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen and drew with Genk and Valencia.

Napoli Vs Chelsea 2/22 3:45AM GMT+8

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 12BET odds SSC Napoli Vs Chelsea 2/22 3:45AM GMT+8

The Partenopei side have been extremely impressive in their debut Champions League campaign, and finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Group A. They have not lost a home game in their last 11 matches, but they have not been in the best of forms since the turn of year. The primary reason behind Napoli’s success in Europe has been their defending in the group stages of the competition. Walter Mazzarri’s men conceded only six goals in as many matches during the group stages.

The Blues have a horrendous record while playing in Italy, having won only one of their last seven matches on their travels to the peninsula. Chelsea have won only two of the ten Premier League games since last December. The London side is misfiring in all departments of their game, as they have been vulnerable in defence, slow in the midfield, and Fernando Torres is not providing Daniel Sturridge with the support in attack.

UEFA news 12bet update 1/06

New deals for young Blues

Chalobah, Saville and Phillip sign fresh terms

Chelsea have handed new contracts to reserve trio Nathaniel Chalobah, George Saville and Adam Phillip.

England Under-19 international Chalobah was on the bench against Wolves on Monday and has now signed his first professional contract with the Blues.

The defender only turned 17 last month and has committed himself to Chelsea until 2014, while team-mate Saville has committed for a further year.

The 18-year-old has played in all 13 of the side's reserve league games this season and has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Former England Under-17 international Phillip is currently out with a long-term injury, but the 20-year-old has extended his contract by a season, with his previous deal due to run out in the summer. -http://www1.skysports.com/

UEFA news 12bet update 1/04

Napoli keep Maggio for two more years

Italian international defender Christian Maggio has put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at UEFA Champions League hopefuls SSC Napoli until June 2015.

Italy defender Christian Maggio has put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at UEFA Champions League hopefuls SSC Napoli until June 2015.

The 29-year-old, capped 14 times, joined Napoli from UC Sampdoria in 2008 and is a key member of Walter Mazzarri's side, helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 this season despite a difficult qualifying group including FC Bayern München, Manchester City FC and Villarreal CF. "Maggio will be a Napoli player until 2015 and soon we will also announce a new deal for [Marek] Hamšík," announced club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The fleet-footed full-back, whose previous contract was due to expire in 2013, Maggio has scored 15 goals in 105 Serie A appearances for the Partenopei.

Napoli will host Chelsea FC in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie on 21 February before travelling to London for the return on 14 March. - http://www.uefa.com

UEFA news 12bet update 1/03

Barcelona and Porto lead 2011 roll of honour

UEFA salutes all the clubs and national selections who lifted trophies in 2011 in our annual breakdown of the year's winners, with FC Barcelona and FC Porto taking the top prizes.

UEFA salutes all the clubs and national selections who lifted trophies in 2011 with our annual summary of the year's winners.

FC Barcelona blew Manchester United FC away with a 3-1 win in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley, while in Dublin's first major club showpiece FC Porto edged out SC Braga in what was an all-Portuguese UEFA Europa League decider. Spain also won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and the equivalent men's U19 and women's U17 titles.

At domestic level, United lifted a record 19th championship in England, LOSC Lille Métropole claimed their first French crown since 1954 and a youthful Borussia Dortmund side defied pre-season predictions to become German champions. Kudos also to Ulisses FC and FC Dacia Chisinau, who broke FC Pyunik and FC Sheriff's runs of ten successive league titles in Armenia and Moldova respectively. - http://www.uefa.com

UEFA news 12bet update 1/1

Blackburn stun United to poop Sir Alex's party

Manchester United FC missed out on the chance to begin the new year at the Premier League summit after a shock 3-2 defeat by Blackburn Rovers FC, while Chelsea FC also lost at home.

Manchester United FC missed out on the chance to begin the new year on top of the Premier League after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat at home against lowly Blackburn Rovers FC.

Sir Alex Ferguson turned 70 today but it was a birthday the United manager will want to forget after witnessing his side rally from 2-0 down only to lose to Grant Hanley's late winner. Ayegbeni Yakubu converted a 16th-minute penalty before bustling his way into the area to fire through David De Gea's legs early in the second half. Dimitar Berbatov (52, 62) brought the hosts level only but Hanley took advantage of De Gea's flap at a corner (80) to stun the English champions.

United remain level on points with Manchester City FC, who are hoping to move clear after facing Sunderland AFC on Sunday. It was also a disappointing day for Chelsea FC, who lost 3-1 against Aston Villa FC despite taking the lead through Didier Drogba's penalty (23). Second-half goals by Stephen Ireland, Stilyan Petrov and Darren Bent condemned André Villas-Boas's side to their fifth league defeat of the campaign.

Arsenal FC moved two points clear of the Blues into fourth place as Robin van Persie's 35th league goal of 2011 secured a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers FC and lifted the Gunners to within three points of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC, held 1-1 at Swansea City AFC. Norwich City FC and Bolton Wanderers FC shared the same scoreline against Fulham FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC respectively, while Stoke City FC and Wigan Athletic FC drew 2-2. - http://www.uefa.com

UEFA news 12bet update 12/23

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez: I am entering the best years of my career

The 26-year-old forward feels he has matured as a player and has set his sights on featuring for Germany at Euro 2012, having already found the target 24 times this season

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has stated that his times of uncertainty are now behind him and that he now is in his prime as a footballer.

In previous years, the Germany international had spells of brilliance interrupted by lengthy droughts without goals. However, at 26-years-old, he feels he is now more composed than ever before.

"I am now at an age when the best years of my career begin - or have already begun," he told Kicker. "At 26, you're in your prime as a striker. And in the mid-20s you're more mature, you have experience in game-deciding situations, you stay relaxed."

The former Stuttgart man enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in 2010-11, scoring 39 goals in all competitions. In the current campaign he has already hit the target 24 times and feels he has put his demons behind him.

Speaking of his own self-doubt, he said: "[I am] proud that I have been able to convince the man from whom I have had the greatest resistance in my career." 

Gomez is now looking forward to making an impact on the international level for Germany at Euro 2012. However, he will calmly accept Joachim Low's decision even if the trainer opts to use Miroslav Klose ahead of him.

"I'll do anything to get a place in the national team. If I maintain my performance level up until the Euro and the coach decides against me, then it wasn't meant to be."

Over the last five seasons, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals in all competitions than Gomez.