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Monday, September 19, 2011

9/19 Goal.com News - English - America

Goal.com News - English - America

'We deserved to top Ligue 1' - Olympique Lyonnais' Remi Garde pleased with Marseille win

September 18, 2011 at 7:55 PM

Olympique Lyonnais head coach Remi Garde is thrilled that his side are at the summit of the Ligue 1 table after a 2-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille.

"Although we are still far away from the finishing line, we have been working very hard for this," he said after the game.

First-half goals from Bafetimbi Gomis and Michel Bastos gave Lyon a comfortable win over its Ligue 1 rivals in a one-sided contest.

The victory saw Lyon move to the top place in the league with 14 points from six games, with Montpellier and Toulouse their closest suitors, both on 13 points.

And Remi Garde, who was installed as coach in the summer, says the club's current league position is fully merited.

"After the Champions League playoffs fell right at the same time as the league debut, we did not know what was going to happen.

He added, "Now, we are happy. We deserved this. We have the momentum and we must keep this going."

However, the 45-year-old warned his side against complacency, saying: "The league did not end with Sunday's game."

Both teams will be in action again in Ligue 1 this Wednesday with Lyon away to Caen while Marseille host Evian.

'There is no deal' - Santos' Neymar denies Real Madrid agreement

September 18, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Santos star Neymar has rejected suggestions he is on the brink of agreeing a move to Real Madrid.

"I have been sold like 30 times," Neymar is quoted as saying by Lancenet. "There is no truth to that, I am a player of Santos and I will stay here to play at the club's centenary.

Brazilian sources claimed that Neymar was due to sign a contract with Madrid on Monday after passing a medical at the request of the Spanish club at a hospital in Sao Paulo on Friday.

Questioned about the reports, the 19-year-old said gave no credence to the latest stories about his future, stressing he is fully committed to the club.

"That is all speculation, there is no deal," Neymar said.

Neymar confirmed he was at Hospital Sao Luiz on Friday, but guaranteed it had nothing to do with a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I went to the hospital to solve a personal problem," he explained.

AC Milan's Massimiliano Allegri: It was a mistake to allow Napoli to attack on the counter

September 18, 2011 at 6:28 PM

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri lamented that his players gave Napoli the chance to attack on the counter in his team's 3-1 defeat.

Milan took the lead only 12 minutes in thanks to an Alberto Aquilani header, but saw Napoli turn the score around in less than 40 minutes with a hat-trick from Edinson Cavani.

After the match, Allegri praised his men, but lamented that Napoli was allowed to play its own game.

"This was a very odd game," he told Sky Sport Italia. "We had a lot of possession and we were in the lead, but then they were a bit lucky to equalize almost immediately after. We should not have allowed them to attack on the counter, we knew they would play this way. I am happy with my players, we just lacked a bit of determination in some moments."

AC Milan is currently at the wrong end of the table, with just one point from two games, but Allegri confessed he is not concerned about his side's league situation.

"I am not worried, we know we are a good squad," the coach added. "We come off two good displays against Lazio and Napoli. It is true we have to improve because we have conceded five goals in two games."

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Sami Khedira and the referee are responsible for the defeat to Levante

September 18, 2011 at 5:52 PM

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho blamed Sami Khedira and match official Javier Turienzo Alvarez for his side's 1-0 defeat at Levante.

A second half goal from Arouna Kone was enough for the hosts to sink Madrid, who were reduced to 10 men during the course of the first half following Khedira's second bookable offense.

The Bernabeu outfit claims the referee failed to signal a penalty in the 62nd minute after Vicente

Iborra had handled the ball inside the area, an offense which would have earned the midfielder his second yellow of the game.

After the game, Mourinho criticized the work of the referee, while ironically saying Levante deserved to win the game because of its underhand tactics.

"There was a clear penalty, which would have given Iborra his second yellow card, and that had a clear impact on the result" he told reporters. "If we had scored from the spot and been 10 versus 10, the history of the game would have been different. But we do not have to take credit away from Levante and from what they know they can do at home. I have to congratulate them for this. They know how to provoke, to simulate, to waste time and not give the ball. This is also football and our players do not like these things. No one does it better than Levante in this league."

The Portuguese tactician said Khedira was partially accountable for the negative result, but noted that the German midfielder only fell victim to Levante's antics.

"There are players on our team who cannot get used to the dirty part of football, who are not comfortable with it," Mourinho said. "One of my players [Khedira] was at fault because he knew what was going to happen. He fell into the trap. I hold him partially responsible for the defeat, but the referee is also to blame. Not signalling a penalty nor sending a player off is a lot."

Mourinho conceded his team was largely superior before Khedira was shown red and lamented not scoring during that period.

"While both teams had 11 players on the pitch, we played well and our opponent did not enter our midfield," he explained. "We had chances on goal, two of them in which there was no goalkeeper and another one with an easy shot from four meters out, and we could not score."

Olympique Lyonnais 2-0 Olympique de Marseille: Michel Bastos inspires OL to the summit of Ligue 1

September 18, 2011 at 4:52 PM

Remi Garde's unbeaten start as Olympique Lyonnais head coach continued on Sunday night as he watched his side defeat rival Olympique de Marseille 2-0 at Stade Gerland to move top of Ligue 1, as OM slumped to dead last.

Bafetimbi Gomis would open the scoring for OL after 17 minutes when he turned home a wicked cross from Michel Bastos, and the influential Brazilian would strike the crucial second for the host side with a fine finish just before the half hour mark.

The opening period of the game was rather tactical, with Marseille controlling possession but making little headway into the Lyon defense so the opening goal came something out of the blue. A surging run down the left from Michel Bastos was finished by a positive cross that was matched by Gomis' controlled finish beyond Steve Mandanda.

Against an opponent clearly short of defensive confidence, Lyon would quickly add a second goal. Again it owed much to a powerful run down the left channel from Bastos, who on this occasion was able to burst into the box and dispatch a shot into the far corner of the net.

Before the half was out, the Brazilian would make an almost identical foray, though his finish was slashed wide on this occasion.

Lyon was rampant towards the end of the opening period, but the club could not find a game-killing third goal, despite a powerful Gomis shot being punched clear by Mandanda.

Didier Deschamps' side regrouped after the break and offered an improved second half display, though Hugo Lloris in the home net would never seriously be tested.

Loic Remy and Cesar Azpilicueta managed to get in each other's way mere yards from goal, while a superb one-touch exchange concluded with Lucho Gonzalez's volley flirting with the right hand post of the Lyon goal.

Although its position was certainly inclement, Marseille did not allow its' level to crumble in the closing stages, and the club's infrequent assaults on the home net continued. With 12 minutes remaining, Lloris was finally beaten as Remy headed positively goalwards from a Mathieu Valbuena corner, but his effort was hacked away on the line.

Lyon would preserve the two-goal cushion to move to the summit of the Ligue 1 standings, with Garde yet to endure his first defeat since taking over in the summer. His young side is playing with enthusiasm and, crucially, confidence, which is a commodity sorely lacking in the ranks of OM, which now props up the Championnat classification.

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Sunday, September 18, 2011

9/18 Goal.com News - English - America

Goal.com News - English - America

Sporting Gijon 0-1 Valencia: Roberto Soldado strike seals third straight win for Unai Emery's side

September 17, 2011 at 1:53 PM

Roberto Soldado's fifth goal in three games maintained Valencia's perfect start to the Primera Division season as Unai Emery's side claimed a narrow victory at Sporting Gijon on Saturday evening.

The in-form striker, who scored a hat-trick in his side's thrilling 4-3 win at home to Racing Santander on the opening weekend, and netted the only goal of the game as Valencia defeated Atletico Madrid in its next match, was on target again as he bundled home a rebound after half an hour.

Pablo Hernandez advanced down the left, riding several challenges before setting up Jonas. The Brazilian's shot was saved and the rebound fell to Soldado, in the right place at the right time as usual to convert what was the first real chance of the game.

Soldado latched onto a neat ball from Ever Banega midway through the second half, but saw his shot saved by Juan Pablo Colinas.

The striker then departed with a twisted ankle and was replaced by Aritz Aduriz, who missed a great chance to make it 2-0 soon after coming on.

Sporting piled on the pressure in the closing stages as it sought a late leveller.

Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita made a great save to deny David Barral and the home side was virtually camped in the visitors' area in the final few minutes.

However, the visitors held on to move provisionally top of the table, where they could be joined by Real Madrid and Betis on Sunday.

Bundesliga Round 6 Results: Koln stuns Leverkusen; Bremen goes top with draw against Nurnberg

September 17, 2011 at 1:46 PM

An enterprising second-half performance gave Koln a 4-1 derby victory against Leverkusen, its first win at the BayArena since 1996.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening half, but were stunned just before the interval by the guile of Lukas Podolski, who set up Milivoje Novakovic for the simplest of finishes. The roles were reversed three minutes after the break, Novakovic turning provider for Podolski, who scored with ease. The Germany international grabbed his second seven minutes later, hammering a low shot in from outside the area after a miscue by Stefan Reinartz.

Mato Jajaro hit the post, before Leverkusen pulled one back from Simon Rolfes' tap in. However, the hosts could not find a way back, and their misery was compounded in injury time. Schurrle was shown a harsh red card for a tackle from behind, before Koln carved Leverkusen apart one last time for Jajaro to grab its fourth at the death.

Wayne Rooney believes Chelsea clash is Manchester United's biggest test so far

September 17, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes his side will face its toughest test of the season when it goes head-to-head with title rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have begun the campaign with some dazzling performances against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but the England international remains wary of the threat posed by Andre Villas-Boas' side.

"The Chelsea game's going to be difficult and we need to be at our best," Rooney told the club's official website.

"Obviously Arsenal are always difficult but with the injuries they had when they came to Old Trafford we were the favorites to win that one."

The summer signing of Juan Mata from Valencia and the return of Daniel Sturridge to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Bolton Wanderers has added a new dimension to Villas-Boas' team but Rooney remains confident that United is well-equipped to deal with those threats.

"They've got a few new players – I saw Daniel Sturridge started the last game and Juan Mata played as well," he said.

"I'm sure they'll have a few new ideas to go along with the new signings they have, but I'm sure we'll be able to cope with that."

Like many of the United squad Rooney has cited the influx of young players such as Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck as a big factor behind the club's impressive early season form.

"I worked extremely hard during preseason and the manager's lobbed a few of the younger players in and it's worked well for us," he said.

"Obviously I'm benefiting from that, with goals. There's a lot of energy around the team – it's going great for us at the minute."

Bolton 1-2 Norwich: Martin Petrov penalty not enough for 10-man Wanderers as Cannaries hold on for vital win

September 17, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Bolton Wanderers struggled defensively as Norwich City sealed a vital 2-1 away victory with goals from Bradley Johnson and Andy Pilkington.

The game started with several heavy challenges, as referee Howard Webb struggled to keep control of a match that was becoming increasingly testy.

Keeping within the character of the match, Norwich took the lead through a scrappy goal in the 37th minute. A Daniel Fox corner found Steve Morison at the back post who directed the ball back towards goal and despite plenty of Bolton defenders in attendance, Pilkington finished from close range for his first ever Premier League goal.

Bolton had little or no composure and was unable to keep possession after that goal. Kevin Davies was getting no change from the referee, with seemingly every decision going against him and Norwich didn't have to wait long until it doubled the lead.

It was from another set-piece and yet more suspect Bolton defending as Fox's free-kick was headed in by Johnson at the back-post as his run went completely unchecked three minutes before the break.

Bolton's afternoon didn't get any better before halftime when a moment of madness came over Klasnic. The Croatian international appeared to head-butt Morison with the linesman watching and he then informed Webb, who sent him off.

Bolton was handed a lifeline by the Canaries when Barnett took down Ngog in the area on the 64th minute with a late challenge. This penalty is the fourth one the newly promoted side has conceded this season and Petrov slotted it home to get the home side back in the game.

Norwich was able to contain the home side until the final whistle with the only downer being an injury to Wes Hoolahan. Bolton struggled to commit to attack with the ten men and made it a comfortable afternoon for the Canaries who will enjoy their trip home to Norfolk.

Wolves 0-3 QPR: Captain Joey Barton scores first goal for club as Neil Warnock's side claims second away win

September 17, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Early goals from Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin and a second half effort from DJ Campbell set Queens Park Rangers on the way to an impressive 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Mick McCarthy's team, which had enjoyed such a positive start to its campaign with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, is unlikely to turn in a poorer performance this season and has now lost two on the bounce It has also failed to score a Premier League goal since those successive victories, and on the evidence of this display it was easy to see why.

A lackluster performance from the home side should not undermine an excellent QPR display, however. The Hoops picked up their second Premier League win and bested Wolves all over the field, with the quality of Faurlin in particular shining through as Rangers' creative hub in the center of midfield.

Wolves made two changes to its side, with Stephen Ward moving to attack to replace the injured Steven Fletcher and George Elokobi filling in at left-back. Matt Jarvis returned to the wing with Stephen Hunt dropping to the bench. Neil Warnock stuck with the QPR side that drew 0-0 against Newcastle and his players rewarded him with two goals inside the opening ten minutes.

Two of Warnock's new signings chipped in, as Shaun Wright-Phillips volleyed Faurlin's ball into the box back across the area for a waiting Barton. Rangers' new captain was subsequently able to guide the ball into the bottom corner to open up scoring.

Minutes later, QPR doubled its lead after both of Wolves' George Elokobi and Richard Stearman failed to properly clear their lines. Stearman's weak header dropped to Faurlin, who volleyed sweetly past Wayne Hennessey from 20 yards out to leave the Molineux crowd stunned.

Wolves seemed to respond well, with Matt Jarvis becoming more of a factor on the left-hand side, though nothing would come of his hard work down the wing. That revival was short-lived, though, as QPR began to reassert its dominance with some stylish passing football. Barton, Wright-Phillips and Adel Taraabt continued to trouble the Wolves defense, which managed to make it into the break without conceding any more.

Despite two substitutions to spark the offense, Wolves continued to stutter and failed to test Paddy Kenny in the QPR goal. After hitting the post, Wright-Phillips turned creator, releasing Armand Traore, who in turn crossed for Campbell to finish the chance and make it 3-0.

While Kenny was eventually tested through a curling Jaimie O'Hara free kick, the QPR defense held strong to limit Wolves chances and collect its second clean sheet of the season.

Wayne Rooney believes Chelsea clash is Manchester United's biggest test so far

September 17, 2011 at 11:28 AM

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes his side will face its toughest test of the season so far when it goes head-to-head with title rival Chelsea at Old Trafford.

"The Chelsea game's going to be difficult and we need to be at our best," Rooney told the club's official website. "Obviously Arsenal are always difficult but with the injuries they had when they came to Old Trafford we were the favorites to win that one."

The summer signing of Juan Mata from Valencia and the return of Daniel Sturridge to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Bolton Wanderers has added a new dimension to Chelsea but Rooney remains confident that United is well-equipped to deal with those threats.

"They've got a few new players – I saw Daniel Sturridge started the last game and Juan Mata played as well," he said. "I'm sure they'll have a few new ideas to go along with the new signings they have, but I'm sure we'll be able to cope with that.

"This is going to be another big game and if we can win we'll go five points clear of Chelsea and keep our winning run going at the start of the season."

Like many of the United squad Rooney has cited the influx of young players such as Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck as a big factor behind the club's impressive early season form.

"I worked extremely hard during preseason and the manager's lobbed a few of the younger players in and it's worked well for us," he said. "Obviously I'm benefiting from that, with goals. There's a lot of energy around the team – it's going great for us at the minute."

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