Inter stretch lead over Milan with win over Chievo

January 7, 2010

Serie A champions Inter Milan started the new year with a 1-0 win over Chievo to stretch their lead over AC Milan, who face Genoa later Wednesday, to 11 points.

Inter were deprived of a number of midfield stars, handing a rare start to wantaway French midfielder Patrick Vieira who is being tipped to move to Manchester City.

However their absences due to injury proved no major handicap and striker Mario Balotelli gave Jose Mourinho’s side a welcome lead when he struck on the counter in the 12th minute.

Inter were given little trouble for the remainder of the match and pocketed the three points to sit on 42 in total after 18 games.

“I am extremely happy,” said Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho.

“These are the type of matches that are decisive and puts a smile on a coach’s face because the personality displayed by the team was astonishing.”

It was not all happy news for Inter, though, as their Romanian international defender Cristian Chivu fractured his skull in a clash of heads in the 46th minute while Balotelli was subjected to racist abuse.

Balotelli, born in Palermo but of Ghanaian heritage, is regularly subjected to such insults but usually tries to shrug it off.

After what was the final Inter game for another black player, Frenchman Patrick Vieira, who is tipped to sign for Manchester City, the 19-year-old Balotelli could not contain his anger.

“Every time I come to Verona I realise that the supporters disgust me more and more. It’s completely unacceptable,” Balotelli told Sky Sports.

Elsewhere Juventus got off to a winning start to the new year having lost five of their previous six matches in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Parma.

Midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic scored only three minutes into the encounter and an own-goal had them 2-0 up by the break.

The ‘Old Lady’ hung on for the three points despite having on-loan defender Martin Caceres sent-off in the second-half. They move into second place though AC Milan can replace them later should they beat Genoa.

Juventus suffered an injury worry as French striker David Trezeguet went off with an apparent sprained ankle after being tackled by Parma’s veteran defender Christian Panucci in the 18th minute.

Juventus said the full extent of the injury would be known on Thursday.

Napoli lie fourth after a 2-0 victory over Atalanta while Roma will be kicking themselves after letting a 2-0 lead slip away at Cagliari with the home side scoring twice in time added on to force a 2-2 draw.

AC Milan’s match should see England star David Beckham making his debut after returning on loan from LA Galaxy.

ROME (AFP)

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Juve bounce back with victory at Haifa

November 4, 2009

Juventus took a significant step towards the Champions League knockout phase by beating Maccabi Haifa 1-0 in their group stage game at the Ramat Gan Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Italian giants, who fell to their first home league defeat in nine months against Napoli on Saturday, opened the scoring through Mauro Camoranesi on the stroke of half-time and were rarely troubled in a turgid second half.

Group A leaders Bordeaux’s victory at Bayern Munich on Tuesday means that Juventus are now four points above the Germans in second place and require three points from their last two matches to progress.

Home goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch was the busiest man in the ground in the game’s early stages and was forced to save from Diego, twice, Amauri and Tiago as Juventus peppered his goal with shots.

Haifa eventually established a foothold in the game, though, with Georgian international striker Vladimir Dvalishvili testing Gianluigi Buffon from close range and then heading over from Yaniv Katan’s cross moments later.

Davidovitch was called upon again to push an Amauri effort around the post as Juve re-asserted their authority and Tiago saw an attempted chip land on the roof of the net 10 minutes before half-time.

With half-time beckoning Juve broke the hosts’ resistance, Camoranesi latching onto Martin Caceres’s right-wing cross and cracking the ball past Davidovitch via the aid of a deflection.

Juve narrowly edged Haifa by the same scoreline when they met in Turin and Ciro Ferrara’s side once again succeeded in keeping the Israelis at arm’s length in the second period, although Shlomi Arbeitman gave them a couple of scares with two headers that were narrowly off-target.

A fourth consecutive group stage defeat means Haifa can no longer qualify for the next round and they must win their remaining two matches to stand any chance of overhauling Bayern to qualify for the Europa League.

RAMAT GAN, Israel (AFP)

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, Bordeaux, camoranesi, ciro, ciro ferrara, close range, consecutive group, Diego, foothold, four points, Gan Stadium, gianluigi buffon, group stage, haifa, israel, knockout, maccabi haifa, martin caceres, mauro camoranesi, napoli, ramat gan israel, scoreline, second period, stage game, target, turin, Vladimir Dvalishvili, yaniv katan

Caceres makes Juve switch

August 7, 2009

Uruguay international Martin Caceres has joined Juventus on a season-long loan from Barcelona, the Spanish club have confirmed.

The 22-year-old defender made only 13 appearances as the Catalans claimed the treble last season and has been told he does not feature in the plans of Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

The deal gives Juve first option to sign Caceres permanently at the end of the season, with Barcelona slapping a 12million euro price tag on the player’s head in a statement on the club’s official website fcbarcelona.cat, which confirmed the deal this evening.

Caceres took part in a training session with his new team-mates on Thursday and will attend Juve’s pre-season friendly against Villarreal in Salerno.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: barca, Barcelona, catalans, Defender, fcbarcelona, first option, guardiola, martin caceres, part, pep guardiola, price tag, rajput, salerno, span, spanish club, target, team mates, training session, uruguay, Villarreal

Two down, one to go for treble chasers Barcelona

May 18, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona, with a first domestic double since 1998 secured, can complete the most successful season in their 110-year history with victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final on May 27.

No Spanish side has ever achieved this treble, but coach Pep Guardiola has the chance to do it in his debut season although defeating holders, and English champions, United is a tall order.

“The league is the most important title,” insisted Guardiola. “It is more important than being champions of Europe because it is the prize for the most consistent team.

“In Europe, you can have a bad ten minutes and it is over for you. You just have to look at our game against Chelsea when Andres Iniesta rescued us in the last minute.”

Guardiola won the European Cup as a player in 1992, but has problems ahead of the final with suspensions and injuries to key players.

Thierry Henry, back to his best this season, is currently out with knee ligament trouble, but the French forward is optimistic of making the Rome final.

“I hope no-one rules me out for Rome,” said Henry. “I am working to the maximum to give myself a chance of playing. I am getting better with each day and am optimistic.

“For me it would be a dream to play in Rome after the final defeat to Barcelona when I was at Arsenal.”

Henry was part of the Gunners side that lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the 2006 final and the Champions League is the one medal missing from his collection.

The semi-final hero Andres Iniesta, who scored a dramatic winner against Chelsea, is also sidelined with a thigh injury but is desperate to make the final.

“I will be in Rome. It’s a small tear. It’s not so serious, I suppose it’s caused by stress linked to the end of the season,” explained Iniesta.

“The desire I have to play in the final of the Champions League will help me a lot in recovering quickly.”

Guardiola also has problems at the back with right back Dani Alves and left back Eric Abidal suspended while centre-back Rafael Marquez is out for the season.

Guardiola has to reshuffle either switching Carles Puyol to right back and bringing defensive midfielder Yaya Toure in at centre-half alongside Gerard Pique or gambling on the inexperienced Uruguayan Martin Caceres.

At left back veteran Brazilian Sylvinho, 35, could replace Abidal or the versatile Puyol could switch sides.

Barca have only won the European Cup twice and if they can beat United to win an historic treble they will go down in history.

“Footbally speaking, this is one of the best seasons in the history of Barcelona when you consider the way we played and the titles won,” said president Joan Laporta.

“It could be the best season ever if we win the Champions League too.”

Tags: Andres Iniesta, arsenal, Barcelona, champions league, CHELSEA, debut season, english champions, Eric, Europe, gerard pique, gunners, hero, joan laporta, knee ligament, LA Liga, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, martin caceres, pep guardiola, rafael marquez, ROME, spanish side, suspensions, thierry henry, thigh injury, treble, UEFA Champions League

Pressure on Real as Barcelona go nine clear

April 12, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said the pressure was now on Real Madrid after his side beat Recreativo Huelva 2-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday to open up a nine-point gap at the Spanish League summit.

Barcelona followed up their 4-0 Champions League mauling of Bayern Munich with a hard-fought victory with Spanish international Andres Iniesta scoring the opener after just 46 seconds and an own goal from Nasief Morris clinching the three points.

“Now it’s Real’s turn to win,” said Guardiola. “We have played our part and got the job done.

“It was hard for us but things are not always easy in football. There are eight games left and we are closer (to the title).”

Champions Real host Valladolid, who beat them 1-0 earlier in the season, on Sunday as they try to close back to within six points of Barcelona whose next game is the second leg of their European quarter-final against Bayern on Tuesday.

But Guardiola warned his side not to get complacent saying Bayern had the firepower to hurt his team.

“Bayern are capable of scoring four goals,” said Guardiola. “(Franck) Ribery, (Luca) Toni, (Bastian) Schweinsteiger and company are dangerous players.

“I didn’t have to see them score four goals today (Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0) to know that.”

Guardiola rested first teamers Carles Puyol, Xavi and Samuel Eto’o against Recreativo to give them a breather in the season run-in.

Uruguayan Martin Caceres started in defence against his old club while Bojan Krkic replaced Eto’o in attack.

After watching Barcelona smash four goals past Bayern in the first half in midweek, Huelva, third from bottom, would have wanted to keep things tight but it didn’t work out that way.

Thierry Henry used his pace to get in behind the defence and his cut back was slotted in by Iniesta with just 46 seconds gone.

Victor Valdes was then called upon to make a great save to foil Sebastian Nayar in the sixth minute.

Barcelona were controlling proceedings and Lionel Messi thought he had doubled the lead minutes before the interval only for Morris to block his goalbound shot.

An own goal provided Barcelona with the second goal they craved as the sliding Morris diverted Iniesta’s cross into his own net.

Lionel Messi missed a penalty late on but it proved irrelevant.

Barcelona’s dazzling displays have certainly cast a shadow over Real this season but their coach Juande Ramos insists their rivals are not the perfect team as some people are claiming.

“I am not envious of Barcelona,” said Ramos. “They are not perfect. No team is perfect and I am sure Pep Guardiola would tell you the same.

“Barcelona have weaknesses like every team does. But they have more strengths than weaknesses and that is why they win matches so convincingly.”

Real have won 13 out of their 15 league games under Ramos but are running out of time to overhaul the leaders.

Later on Saturday, Villarreal entertain Malaga trying to forget their upcoming Champions League quarter-final second leg at Arsenal on Wednesday and concentrate on qualifying for next season’s competition.

Villarreal are two points ahead of fifth-placed Valencia and need to bounce back after a shock 3-0 defeat at Almeria last time out.

Villarreal and Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg at El Madrigal.

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Bastian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, bayern munich, camp nou, carles puyol, european quarter, franck ribery, FRANKFURT, Krkic, LA Liga, lionel messi, luca toni, MADRID, Malaga, martin caceres, Morris, nasief morris, nayar, pep guardiola, samuel eto, samuel eto o, Sebastian Nayar, thierry henry, Toni, Valencia, valladolid, victor valdes

On-song Barca go nine clear

April 12, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona maintained their march towards the Spanish league title opening up a nine-point gap over Real Madrid at the summit with a 2-0 home win over Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.

Spanish international Andres Iniesta scored after just 46 seconds and then created the second goal with his 67th minute cross deflected in by the unfortunate Nasief Morris.

It was always going to be difficult for Barca to match Wednesday’s 4-0 Champions League drubbing of Bayern Munich but Pep Guardiola’s team notched up another three points to put pressure on Real.

On Sunday Real host Valladolid, who beat them 1-0 earlier in the season, as they try to close back to within six points of Barca.

Barca’s next game is the second leg of their quarter-final Champions League match against Bayern on Tuesday and it is hard to see them failing to progress with their commanding 4-0 first leg cushion.

Barca captain Carles Puyol, Xavi and Samuel Eto’o were all rested with Guardiola keen to keep his stars fresh as they go for an historic treble.

Uruguayan Martin Caceres started in defence against his old club while Bojan Krkic replaced Eto’o in attack.

After watching Barca smash four goals past Bayern in the first half Huelva, third from bottom, would have wanted to keep things tight but it didn’t work out that way.

Thierry Henry used his pace to get in behind the defence and his cut back was slotted in by Iniesta with just 46 seconds on the clock.

Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes was then called upon to make a great save to foil Sebastian Nayar in the sixth minute.

Guardiola’s side were controlling proceedings and Lionel Messi thought he had doubled the lead minutes before the interval only for Morris to block his goalbound shot.

An own goal provided Barca with the second goal they craved as the sliding Morris diverted Iniesta’s cross into his own net. Messi missed a penalty late on but it proved irrelevant.

Barcelona’s dazzling displays have certainly cast a shadow over Real this season but their coach Juande Ramos insists their arch rivals are not the perfect team as some people are claiming.

“I am not envious of Barcelona,” said Ramos. “They are not perfect. No team is perfect and I am sure Pep Guardiola would tell you the same.

“Barca have weaknesses like every team does. They have more strengths than weaknesses and that is why they win matches so convincingly.”

Real have won 13 out of their 15 league games under Ramos but are running out of time to overhaul the leaders.

Later on Saturday Villarreal entertain Malaga trying to forget their upcoming Champions League quarter-final second leg at Arsenal on Wednesday and concentrate on qualifying for next season’s competition.

Villarreal are two points ahead of fifth-placed Valencia and need to bounce back after a shock 3-0 defeat at Almeria last time out.

“It is normal that we have our minds on the Arsenal game but we have to avoid thinking about it,” said Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Villarreal and Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg at El Madrigal.

Tags: Andres Iniesta, barca, Barcelona, Bayern, carles puyol, drubbing, final champions league, Krkic, LA Liga, lionel messi, MADRID, Malaga, manuel pellegrini, martin caceres, Morris, nasief morris, nayar, pep guardiola, point gap, real madrid, samuel eto, samuel eto o, Sebastian Nayar, six points, spanish league, thierry henry, Valencia, valladolid, victor valdes

Cup kings Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao set up final date

March 5, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao the two most successful clubs in Spanish Cup history will meet in the final of this season’s renewal after both came through their semi-finals successfully on Wednesday.

Barcelona, who have 24 Cup wins to their name, were held to a 1-1 draw in Majorca by Mallorca but progressed 3-1 on aggregate, though they are now winless in four successive matches in all competitions and have seen their league lead whittled right down by bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Indeed Barcelona, who last won the Cup in 1998, could have been in real trouble had not their reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto saved a penalty in the 52nd minute which saw Barca defender Martin Caceres sent-off.

However, they settled once Mallorca’s Josemi was also red carded in the 70th minute and 11 minutes later they wrapped up their place in the final when Lionel Messi netted.

Athletic Bilbao, who have won the Cup 23 times on the last occasion in 1984 beating Barcelona, wrapped up their place in the first-half of their second leg match with Sevilla as they scored three times to run out 3-0 winners on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

The final is in Valencia on May 13.

Written by: AFP