Quick Report: Bayern Munich 2-1 Fiorentina

February 18, 2010

Bayern Munich beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League Round of Sixteen. The winning goal came from Miroslav Klose in the dying minutes.

The first half was rather uneventful but the best was saved for last. Two minutes into added time before the break, Fiorentina’s Natali fouled Franck Ribery in the penalty area. Arjen Robben made no mistake from the spot and put the Germans in the lead.

The equaliser came five minutes after the interval however, as Per Kroldrup converted a Marco Marchionni corner at the far post, 1-1.

Fiorentina went a man down in the 73rd minute when Massimo Gobbi fouled Robben with a direct red card as result.

Just when the match seemed to be heading for a draw, Bayern’s Miroslav Klose scored the winning goal, heading on an Ivica Olic rebound after Robben had his shot blocked by keeper Frey.

Tags: added time, Bayern, bayern munich, champions league, equaliser, fiorentina, five minutes, franck ribery, frey, germans, interval, Ivica, marco marchionni, massimo, massimo gobbi, match, miroslav klose, mistake, natali, Per Kroldrup, ribery, robben, two minutes

Laporta: Inter wanted Messi

November 14, 2009

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that he turned down a bid in the summer from FC Internazionale Milano for Lionel Messi.

Messi has recently extended his Barca contract to 2016, which has a buy-out clause of more than £200million.

But Laporta confirms that Inter chief Massimo Moratti did indeed try to sign Messi, a favourite to win the Ballon d’Or later this year.

When asked in Corriere dello Sport if Moratti had expressed an interest in buying Messi, Laporta said: “Yes he did.

“But there is nothing to talk about. Messi is not for sale, he (Moratti) must forget about it.

“Massimo is a very successful businessman, but for how he behaves, especially a gentleman.

“Between us is born a beautiful friendship from the first meeting because he speaks to me as a brother.

“He has great human values, listens to others, but is also appealing and full of humour. This have made easier the exchange between Ibrahimovic and Eto’o.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, ballon, Barcelona, beautiful friendship, brother, Eto, fc barcelona, fc internazionale milano, first meeting, gentleman, human values, humour, Ibrahimovic, joan laporta, lionel messi, massimo, massimo moratti, messi messi, sale, Sport

‘Guti calls Sneijder about Inter’

November 11, 2009

Wesley Sneijder received a remarkable phone call before he joined the Netherlands squad for their friendly matches against Italy and Paraguay. Reportedly, Guti, his former team-mate at Real Madrid, telephoned him about the prospect of joining Inter.

The 32-year-old midfielder is out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu after falling out with Manuel Pellegrini. Guti has been ruled out of the first team after launching a tirade at Pellegrini following Real’s 4-0 defeat to Alcorcon last month in the Copa del Rey.

According to Il Corriere Dello Sport Guti rang Sneijder to ask if he could persuade Inter president Massimo Moratti to intervene on his behalf. Moratti wanted to sign the Spain international a few years ago but Inter boss Jose Mourinho is not interested in Guti.

Inter would like to reinforce their central midfield, but with a young Italian like Parma’s Daniele Galloppa, who is a lifelong fan of the Nerazzurri. Inter are apparently going to be very busy in the January transfer window mainly trying to sell Ricardo Quaresma and Amantino Mancini.

They are also looking to strengthen their attack, possibly with the signing of Lazio striker Goran Pandev, as Samuel Eto’o will be away in the spring playing for Cameroon in the African Nations Cup.

Paul Haring

Tags: african nations cup, central midfield, copa del rey, corriere dello sport, daniele, former team, Goran Pandev, il corriere dello sport, jose mourinho, lifelong fan, manuel pellegrini, massimo, midfielder, real madrid, ricardo quaresma, samuel eto o, santiago bernabeu, team mate, tirade, Wesley Sneijder

Appiah wants new club

September 25, 2009

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah admits he needs to find a new club, as reports link him with a move to Bologna.

The midfielder is a free agent after leaving Fenerbahce and was a rumoured target of Arsenal, West Ham and Fulham during the summer.

A move to the Premier League failed to materialise but Appiah could now be close to a return to Serie A, with the 28-year-old applying for an Italian passport.

The former Juventus and Udinese star is reportedly on Bologna’s radar as a possible replacement for Massimo Mutarelli, who has undergone a knee ligament operation.

Appiah could welcome the move, saying: “I need to find a club if I want to be involved in the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: african cup of nations, arsenal, Bologna, captain stephen, captain Stephen Appiah, fenerbahce, free agent, fulham, ghana, italian passport, juventus, knee ligament operation, massimo, midfielder, premier league, stephen appiah, target, west ham, World Cup

Midfielder Donati completes Celtic-Bari switch

September 1, 2009

Italian midfielder Massimo Donati completed his move to Serie A club Bari from Celtic on Monday.

Donati has returned to Italy after two years with the Scottish Premier League team.

The 28-year-old made it clear he wanted to quit Celtic last season following a frustrating spell out of the team during Gordon Strachan’s reign.

Although Donati had been more involved since the arrival of new manager Tony Mowbray, he was still keen to go back to Italy for family reasons.

“I asked Celtic for the chance to return to Italy and I am very grateful for granting me that wish,” Donati told Celtic’s website.

“The new manager at Celtic trusted me and respected me but my desire to return to Italy was too strong.

“I’ll miss playing in Scotland. The league is more physical and the Italian league is obviously more technical.

“But what I will miss most of all is the fantastic supporters and the atmosphere they create at games. We can learn a lot from them in Italy.”

Donati joined Celtic in June 2007 from AC Milan and made 54 appearances for the Hoops.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, atmosphere, Bari, celtic, club bari, desire, games, Glasgow, gordon strachan, hoops, Italy, massimo, massimo donati, midfielder, Milan, premier league, scotland, Scottish Premier League, tony mowbray

Bari claim Donati deal

August 28, 2009

Serie A outfit Bari claim they have reached an agreement with Scottish giants Celtic regarding Italian midfielder Massimo Donati.

The Italian midfielder has spent the last two years at Parkhead, but now looks set to head back to his homeland.

Donati began his career at Atalanta, before moving on to AC Milan in 2001, and struggled to make an impact at the Giuseppe Meazza, though, and was often sent out on loan, taking in spells at Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina and back at Atalanta.

The 28-year-old then moved to Scotland in 2007 and helped Celtic to the SPL title in his first season at Parkhead.

Donati soon fell out of favour under Gordon Strachan, though, and was tipped to be on the move during the 2009 January transfer window.

He ultimately remained with the Hoops and was brought back into the first-team fold on a regular basis by new boss Tony Mowbray.

However, Celtic have accepted an approach from Bari for his services and he is expected to be on his way back to Italy before the summer window slams shut.

“Celtic have accepted Bari’s offer for the transfer of midfielder Massimo Donati,” read a statement released by Bari.

“The contract formalities will be completed on Friday.

“The player has agreed a four-year deal and he is expected in Bari on Monday.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: ac milan, atalanta, Bari, celtic, formalities, giants, giuseppe meazza, gordon strachan, hoops, Italy, massimo, messina, midfielder, Milan, new boss, parkhead, sampdoria, scotland, spells, tony mowbray, torino

Donati admits Arsenal were the best side

August 28, 2009

Massimo Donati has admitted that Celtic were outclassed against Arsenal over the two legs of their UEFA Champions League qualifier.

The Hoops went down 5-1 on aggregate after losing 3-1 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in a game that was overshadowed by Gunners striker Eduardo’s dive that earned his side the opener from the penalty spot.

The Croatian international stepped up himself to put the tie beyond Tony Mowbray’s men much to the disgust of the Scottish side.

Donati has since called for Uefa to suspend Eduardo as a result of his behaviour but, after having time to reflect, the Italian midfielder, who scored a sensational consolation late on, conceded that the best team had progressed.

“We tried to play the ball around but Arsenal were just too good for us,” he said.

“We lost because Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world, in the last few years they have made the quarters, semis and final of the competition so we knew it would be hard.

“We tried our best but it wasn’t good enough and they were better than us. It was definitely not a penalty, he dived, but that is part of football and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

“Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world but now all we can do is concentrate on the league and the Europa League as well.”

Despite failing to reach the group stages of the Champions League, the 28-year-old believes going straight into the Europa League offers some sort of consolation.

“It’s not nice to have failed to have qualified for the Champions League,” he added. “For a few years now we have made the group stages and we did well especially last season.

“It usually creates fantastic atmospheres in those matches but this year hopefully it will be the same in the Europa League.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, aggregate, atmospheres, celtic, consolation, croatian, disgust, Eduardo, Emirates Stadium, group, group stages, gunners, having time, hoops, massimo, massimo donati, midfielder, penalty, quarters, rajput, scottish side, semis, tony mowbray, two legs, uefa, UEFA Champions League, Wednesday

Scottish FA chief wants Arsenal´s Eduardo punished

August 27, 2009

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith wants UEFA to punish Arsenal striker Eduardo for diving in the Champions League play-off round second leg against Celtic.

Eduardo won a crucial penalty in Arsenal’s 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday after tumbling theatrically to the turf as Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc came out to make a save.

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati called for Eduardo to be banned in the immediate aftermath of the match and Smith wants UEFA, European football’s governing body, to act retrospectively to punish the Croatia international in the same way they dealt with Lithuania striker Saulius Mikoliunas, who cheated to earn a spot-kick against Scotland at Hampden Park in September 2007.

Video evidence was used to sanction Mikoliunas, who was banned for two matches.

Smith said: “Eduardo is a terrific player who has battled back from a serious injury to resume playing at the highest level.

“However, on Wednesday he showed disrespect to the game by his actions in winning a penalty against Celtic.

“Since I came into this post, I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again – both here in Scotland and with FIFA and UEFA.

“I don’t think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football. Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously.

“We have shown the courage to use retrospective punishment when it comes to simulation and I would urge UEFA to do so in this instance. Everything that can be done to stamp it out must be done – starting right now.

“We need a serious debate on these issues. Everyone in football has a responsibility to set the right example to our youngsters.

“We can talk all we want about Fair Play campaigns, but taking action would be a much more powerful deterrent and would send the right message to players everywhere.”

Even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted it was not a penalty and Donati, who scored Celtic’s goal in stoppage time, added: “If it is clear on TV then UEFA must act against Eduardo and ban him.

“I think he should get a two-match ban because it wasn’t a penalty. I told him that and everyone in the Celtic team told him that.”

Celtic defender Glenn Loovens was also in no doubt Eduardo had dived.

“I don’t think he even speaks English so there was no point talking to him,” Loovens added.

“It is very disappointing but that is football. It’s sad it happened to us.

“I don’t think it is really fair. But it helped his team take the lead. There is a referee and a linesman to see those kind of things.”

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Artur Boruc, celtic, champions league, croatia, disrespect, Eduardo, Emirates Stadium, fair play, FIFA, Glasgow, Goalkeeper, gordon smith, governing body, hampden park, Lithuania, massimo, midfielder, scor, scotland, scottish football association, scottish football association chief executive, simulation time, terrific player, uefa, video evidence, youngsters

I´m not apologising, says Mourinho

April 30, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho on Thursday refused to apologise for comments he made earlier this season claiming none of his team’s Serie A rivals would win any trophies.

Mourinho angered the likes of AC Milan and Juventus after his team were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United when he said Inter would definitely win the scudetto while the others would finish the season empty-handed.

However, Milan’s recent resurgence has made Inter’s hold on this season’s championship look a little less concrete, even if they do still enjoy a commanding seven point lead with five games remaining.

“If I’m proved wrong and Milan end the season with the title, I’ll ask for forgiveness,” said Mourinho in response to claims from Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini earlier in the day that the Portuguese should apologise for what he said.

He also hit back at Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani’s claim that the title race would be closer if Adriano’s handball in scoring Inter’s winning goal against Milan in February had been disallowed.

“They say that without Adriano’s goal… well without many things the championship could have been very different,” added Mourinho.

“Coaches make mistakes just as do players and referees. And then there’s the injuries.

“You have to talk about everything not just what suits you. That derby could have finished three or four nil if Milan had finished the game with 10 men (Mourinho believed they should have had a player dismissed).

“They have to say that they won the first derby (1-0) in September due to a goal that was offside.

“They’ve had a penalty in practically every match they’ve played. If I speak, I’ll have to speak about many things and it’s not worth it.

“At the end of the season the best team always wins even if it’s a normal championship with human errors. There’s only a little while longer to wait, we’re not lacking very much.”

Tags: ac milan, adriano galliani, Ambrosini, champions league, five games, forgiveness, Galliani, handball, inter milan, jose mourinho, juventus, Manchester, manchester united, many things, massimo, Milan, offside, player, portuguese, referees, resurgence, rivals, ROME, scudetto, Serie A, trophies

Should Juve receive stadium ban for Balotelli abuse?

April 21, 2009

After years of racist chanting from the stands, Italian soccer has finally realised it has a problem.

Inter Milan goalscorer Mario Balotelli, born in Palermo and of Ghanaian descent, was racially abused by sections of the Juventus crowd during Saturday’s 1-1 Serie A draw in Turin.

Fans sang “a black Italian does not exist” at the Italy under-21 international.

Maybe it is because the high-profile game was a top-of-the-table clash, maybe it is because Balotelli is Italian, but this time the revulsion felt by fans and the media is much greater than at any time in the past.

Monkey chants towards non-Italian black players are a reasonably regular occurence but clubs normally get just a small fine, like 8,000 euros, from the league. Media coverage is minimal.

This time even some Juve supporters are calling on the authorities to make an example of the Turin club and make them play games behind closed doors at the Stadio Olimpico or force them to move their matches to another stadium.

Making them play at another stadium might not be a huge punishment, though. Despite what Inter and AC Milan think, Juve are Italy’s biggest club and most of their fans are from the rest of the country not Turin. Being forced to play games in the south for example would please many Juve supporters who rarely see their team.

The newspapers expect nothing more than the usual fine but momentum is building with the police involved and Inter president Massimo Moratti saying he would have pulled his team off the pitch if he had been in Turin on Saturday.

Balotelli is a controversial character who likes to wind up opponents and fans but no one deserves the treatment he received.

UPDATE: JUVE MUST PLAY ONE GAME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

PHOTOS: Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli (C) celebrates with supporters after scoring against Juventus during their Serie A match in Turin, April 18, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

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