Barca’s Keirrison completes loan move to Fiorentina

February 2, 2010

Barcelona’s Brazilian striker Keirrison will join Fiorentina on loan until June 2011.

The Serie A outfit have confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Barcelona to bring Keirrison to Florence.

A statement from Fiorentina read: “Fiorentina announce they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the temporary acquisition of Keirrison for the next two seasons.

“The deal will be completed after the player passes a medical in the next few hours.’

The 21-year-old Keirrison joined Barcelona last summer on a €14 milllion transfer deal from Palmeiras, but he was loaned to Portuguese side Benfica earlier this season.

The South American is under contract with the Primera Division champions until June 2014.

Tags: acquisition, barca, Barcelona, benfica, division champions, Florence, Keirrison, palmeiras, portuguese, Primera Division, Serie, South American, two seasons

Ibra warns rivals of second Barca sweep

December 24, 2009

If Barcelona are going to decelerate the trophy sweeping pedal, as rivals would expect, the Catalan giants towering striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has fired a warning shot that the team can once again win everything next year.

Pep Guardiola’s men have completed a clean sweep of all six trophies they could have lifted this year after winning the FIFA Club World Cup last week to add to their previous successes in the Primera Division, Champions League, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup.

It has been a record-breaking year for Barca and one that has established them as arguably the greatest team ever.

While, Ibrahimovic has only been on hand for the last three trophies, after a summer move from Inter Milan, the Sweden striker believes he can fire Barca to even more success.

“Before this season nobody would have said that a team could be capable of winning it all,” he told El Mundo Deportivo.

“It’s something incredible and it would have been hard to think about it before it happened, but I think we can repeat it.

“I have had the luck to be here only half a year and in that time, achieved three trophies. In so few months I think it’s impossible to do better.”

Tags: barca, Barcelona, catalan, champions league, clean sweep, copa del rey, decelerate, division champions, everything, FIFA, fifa club world cup, giants, ibra, inter milan, Milan, pep guardiola, Primera Division, Rey, rivals, Spanish, successes, Sweden, trophy, warning shot, zlatan ibrahimovic

Barca edge past Real in ‘El Clasico’

November 30, 2009

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s superb second-half volley was enough to give Barcelona a 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Primera Division’s first ‘El Clasico’ of the season at the Nou Camp and move the Catalans back to the top of the table.

Ibrahimovic replaced Thierry Henry early in the second half and fired Barca in front less than five minutes later as he volleyed home Dani Alves’ cross.

Barcelona were reduced to 10 men with almost half an hour left, when Sergio Busquets was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But Madrid, who had earlier missed a fantastic chance to take the lead when the unmarked Cristiano Ronaldo – in his first ever ‘Clasico’ – shot straight at Victor Valdes with only the Barca keeper to beat, failed to take advantage and themselves had Lassana Diarra dismissed late on.

Ronaldo went off with 25 minutes left and Barca should have made things easier with two minutes to go, when Lionel Messi found himself alone with only Iker Casillas to beat, but the Argentina winger shot straight at the Madrid keeper, who deflected the ball over with his feet.

Barca looked the more fluid of the two sides early on, but Madrid proved to be just as dangerous on the break.

Marcelo and Xavi both blasted over the bar in the opening 10 minutes as both sides began brightly.

Casillas had to be alert to gather Thierry Henry’s cross after a trademark Messi run and the Madrid keeper also intercepted well moments later as Iniesta tried to set up Xavi.

Barca were edging it on possession and play, but Madrid had the best chance of the half after 19 minutes.

It fell to Ronaldo and the former Manchester United forward should have scored after he was brilliantly set up by Kaka, but his shot was too close to Valdes and the Barca keeper made a smart save.

Marcelo then got into a great position eight minutes later, but Carles Puyol intercepted the Brazilian’s shot with a perfectly-timed block.

At the other, Casillas did well to cut out Iniesta’s low cross as half-time approached and the Spain keeper also pushed Henry’s cross-shot over the bar moments later.

With the score still goalless, the rather ineffective Henry was replaced by Ibrahimovic six minutes into the second half.

And the Sweden striker was quickly involved in the build-up as Xavi found a great position in the box, but the Spain midfielder hesitated and saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.

From the resulting centre, Madrid raced forward and Gonzalo Higuain looked certain to score after turning Eric Abidal in the area, but Puyol once again appeared from nowhere with another majestic block.

Madrid were certainly having their chances, but Manuel Pellegrini’s side soon found themselves behind when Ibrahimovic smashed home Alves’ looping cross with a thumping left-footed volley at the far post which gave Casillas no chance.

Barca’s joy turned somewhat sour six minutes later, though, when Busquets – who had already been booked – was shown the red card for a cynical handball.

Ronaldo then headed just over the bar from Marcelo’s cross as Madrid immediately threatened to draw level.

But the Portugal winger, perhaps feeling the effects of his recent injury, departed straight after that.

His replacement, Karim Benzema, was quickly involved.

The France striker saw one effort blocked by the impressive Puyol and then flashed another wide moments later as Madrid looked for a way back into the game.

Raul also came on as Pellegrini rolled the dice once more in an attempt to make the most of his side’s numerical advantage.

But Barca still looked dangerous on the break and Abidal drilled an angled drive just wide of Casillas’ far post with 14 minutes left.

And Guardiola’s side should have made sure of the points with two minutes left, but Messi shot straight at Casillas from point-blank range.

Diarra was then dismissed a minute later for scything down Xavi as frustration got to Madrid, who are now two points behind leaders Barca.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: bookable offence, carles puyol, Casillas, catalans, diarra, half volley, kaka, nou camp, Primera Division, real madrid, ronaldo, take the lead, thierry henry, victor valdes, winger, xavi

Mexico again leads way into Champions League quarters

October 24, 2009

The Mexican clubs are back. So is one team from U.S. Major League Soccer. But there will be no teams from the Caribbean in this season’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Mexican teams won each of the four groups, further proving the Mexican Primera Division is the strongest league in the region.

Cruz Azul was the only team to complete the group stage undefeated following a 2-1 win against Saprissa in Costa Rica Tuesday. Ramon Nunez and Pablo Zeballos struck for second half goals for La Maquina, which finished 5-1-0 in Group C. A year ago, Cruz Azul lost to Atlante in the two-leg finals.

“I saw a determined Saprissa squad, with a strong will, but they never dominated the match,” Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza said.

The victory, though, wasn’t without cost as Alejandro Vela fractured his fibula early in the match and will be lost for the remainder of the season.

Led by Ulises Mendivil, who leads all scorers in the Champions League with nine goals, Pachuca also won five of six matches to cruise to the quarterfinals as the Group A winner.

Pumas’ bid to go through undefeated was ruined Thursday night when Comunicaciones struck twice in the opening half for a 2-1 win in Guatemala City. But Pumas still finished atop Group D with 13 points to advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight year. That was the same total for Toluca, Group B winners, which finished the group stage with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United.

A year after just one Central American team advanced out of the group stage, the region sent three squads to the quarterfinals this time. Marathon returned to the knockout stage, clinching its berth on the final matchday. The Honduran side defeated San Juan Jabloteh 4-2 in Port-of-Spain on Thursday, ending D.C. United’s hopes of advancement.

It is joined by Arabe Unido, which finished second in Group A, also clinching its berth on the final day of the group stage. The Panamanians lost to Pachuca 2-0, but were aided by Metapan, which stopped the Houston Dynamo from a second straight quarterfinal bid with its first group stage victory.

The third Central American squad to qualify for the knockout stage is Comunicaciones, which needed a win against Pumas on Thursday night to advance.

Major League Soccer sends one team to the quarterfinals for a second straight year as the Columbus Crew claimed the second berth out of Group C with a 1-1 draw against the Puerto Rico Islanders Tuesday night in Bayamon.

“The Champions League is very important,” Columbus coach Robert Warzycha told MLSnet.com. “We are pleased that we are playing in the competition, but we’re happy all the games are out of the way and we can concentrate on the league. We accomplished our goal, which is to get to the next round.”

The quarterfinalists will learn their knockout round opponents on November 17 when the draw at the confederation’s New York headquarters will set the pairings for the final eight.

The group winners will be drawn against one of the four teams that finished in second place, with no team playing another that it faced in the Group Stage in the two-leg series.

The teams that finished second will host the first leg of the quarterfinals the week of March 9-11, with the group winners hosting the second leg the week of March 16-18.

By Dylan Butler

Tags: Alejandro Vela, C. A, Caribbean, Central American, champions league quarterfinals, COLUMBUS, concacaf champions league, Costa Rica, cruz azul, d c united, D.C., Dylan Butler, Enrique Meza, fibula, group stage, guatemala city, Houston, knockout stage, la maquina, Major League Soccer, matchday, mendivil, metapan, Mexico, New York, Pablo Zeballos, panamanians, port of spain, Primera Division, Puerto Rico, Ramon Nunez, robert warzycha, san juan, san juan jabloteh, Ulises Mendivil, zeballos

Arabe needs draw to advance – but at Pachuca

October 20, 2009

Arabe Unido only needs a draw. However, it needs to get that draw at Pachuca.

The defending Panamanian League champions from Colon, travel to Mexico’s Estadio Hidalgo on Wednesday night, holding a three-point edge over Houston in the fight for the final CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal berth from Group A.

Arabe has lost two of its three away games so far in the Champions League, beat only winless Metapan and scored no more than a goal in each of them. Pachuca has won all three of its home games in this year’s Champions League by a combined 10-0.

However, while an Arabe loss and a victory by Houston over Metapan of El Salvador would leave both tied on points, the Dynamo would advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight year based on their head-to-head results.

“If you play the guessing game you might be led to believe that Pachuca would win against Arabe — but nothing is guaranteed in this competition and we know that our team must travel to Metapan with an objective of obtaining the three points,” Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said.

Pachuca has a two-point edge atop Group A and will be out to avenge a 4-1 road loss to Arabe in the opening round of the Group Stage on August 19.

Not only will Arabe’s rematch with the Tuzos decide first place in the group, it could also go a long way in determining the Champions League golden boot winner.

Arabe striker Orlando Rodriguez leads with eight, one better than Pachuca’s Ulises Mendivil.

In their last Champions League match on September 29, Rodriguez scored three times in a 6-0 victory over Metepan.

Pachuca returns to Champions League play after a 1-0 victory over the Dynamo in Houston – getting a 23rd-minute goal by striker Edgar Benitez — his fourth of the tournament – and holding off the Major League Soccer side 1-0.

Pachuca’s struggles in Mexican Primera Division continued Saturday with its third loss in four games – a 2-0 loss to Apertura Group 2 leader Morelia — and likely will be in no mood to surrender points to Arabe in Wednesday’s CCL Group Stage finale.

In Panama on Saturday, Arabe used an 89th-minute goal by Victor Mendieta to capture a 1-0 victory over Chepo FC.

The Dynamo at minimum need a win when they travel to Estadio Jorge Calero Suarez to face Metapan – and then get some help from Pachuca.

Houston drew 1-1 against Arabe in Panama on August 26 and then won its home leg 5-1 at Robertson Stadium on September 22.

Domestically, the Dynamo have surrendered their chance at the MLS points title – the Supporters Shield — with just one win in five matches, including a 0-0 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy which saw Brian Ching ejected.

At least Houston faces a side still searching for its first Group Stage win, points and goal.

Metapan opened the Group Stage on September 19 holding Houston to a 0-0 draw for 68 minutes before succumbing to a Ching goal.

Since then, it has been outscored 16-0 in four games.

“They [Metapan] might figure they have nothing to lose and attack from the opening whistle,” Kinnear said. “When the pressure is off – players sometimes care less about mistakes – but there is always that pressure of being a professional and getting a result.”

In El Salvador, the reigning Clausura champ appeared to be improving after scrapping out two consecutive draws.

But on Saturday, Metapan was beaten 3-0 away to league leader CD FAS in a match which saw it reduced to nine men after the striker Anal Canales and midfielder Mario Morales were ejected.

The result extended its winless streak to eight in all competitions.

By Peter Mallett

Tags: A. Arabe, cd fas, colon, concacaf champions league, Dominic Kinnear, dynamo, Edgar Benitez, El Salvador, estadio hidalgo, four games, golden boot, group stage, guessing game, home games, Houston, Jorge Calero, league champions, Los Angeles, Major League Soccer, Mario Morales, mendivil, metapan, Mexico, minute goal, Morelia, Orlando, Panama, Peter Mallett, point edge, Primera Division, quarterfinal, quarterfinals, Tuzos, ulises, Ulises Mendivil, Victor Mendieta

Estudiantes suffer first defeat at Argentinos

October 4, 2009

Estudiantes suffer first defeat at Argentinos. Banfield were held to a goalless draw at Colon and dropped to third place.Argentinos Juniors closed the gap with Estudiantes, beating the current Primera Division leaders 1-0 on Saturday. Banfield were held to a goalless draw at Colon and dropped to third place.

Estudiantes could have extended their lead in the Argentinian league, but instead crashed to their first defeat of the season. The only goal in the match, played at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, was scored by Matias Caruzzo in the 27th minute.

Although Estudiantes remain in first place, the gap with Argentinos is now only one point. Velez Sarsfield could reconquer the top spot after their top clash with Boca Juniors on Sunday.

Banfield failed to take advantage of Estudiantes’ slip-up and only managed a 0-0 draw with Colon. As a result, Banfield are surpassed by Argentinos based on the amount of goals scored.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: argentinos juniors, banfield, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, clash, colon, diego armando maradona, division leaders, gap, jonathan, match, Primera Division

Assuncao confident for Porto trip

September 30, 2009

Atletico Madrid midfielder Paulo Assuncao is confident his side can put their poor start to the season aside and return from Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against his former club Porto with all three points.

Atletico made the short trip to Portugal under increasing pressure after taking just three points from their opening five Primera Division matches, which has left the team in the bottom three.

The Rojiblancos have not had much reason for cheer in Europe either, and they were booed off the pitch by their own fans after being held to a goalless draw by minnows Apoel Nicosia in their opening Group D game.

That was a potentially costly setback for Atletico, especially considering the other team in the group is Chelsea, but Assuncao does not feel that result has jeopardised their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.

Instead he believes they will get back on track against the Portuguese champions.

“Porto have a good team and it won’t be easy to beat them, although we also have a great squad and I think that we can defeat them and come back to Madrid with the three points,” said Assuncao, who played for Porto in the 2000/01 season and then again from 2005-08 before making the switch to Atletico.

“Not getting through to the next round isn’t something that we are thinking about. I’m sure we’ll get past the group stage.”

Abel Resino’s men go into the match having had contrasting experiences in their last two league matches, both of which finished in 2-2 draws.

Last week they were denied a first win of the campaign by a last-minute Almeria equaliser, and then on Sunday they were saved from defeat by an injury-time leveller of their own against Valencia.

“We’re going to fight just as hard (against Porto) as we did in the Valencia match. We’re really looking forward to trying to get the win,” added Assuncao.

Atletico already know from bitter recent experience just how hard it is to win at the Estadio do Dragao, though.

In last season’s competition Atletico travelled to Portugal needing to score at least once to have a chance of progressing through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after being held 2-2 at home by Porto.

However, they were unable to find the breakthrough in a goalless draw and Porto, having dominated the first leg and been unlucky not to record a convincing victory at the Vicente Calderon, deservedly went through to the last eight.

Porto could get no further though as they were subsequently knocked out by defending champions Manchester United.

This season Jesualdo Ferreira’s side suffered a losing start to their group campaign against another English side, going down 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

They have had a much better time of it domestically than Atletico, though, winning four of their opening six games, including a 1-0 triumph over Sporting Lisbon at the weekend.

Ferreira will be without the suspended Fernando, while Atletico boss Resino has added Ruben Perez and Sergio Rodriguez to his squad for the trip west, with the non-registered Koke and the injured Juan Valera dropping out from the group that faced Valencia.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abel, Abel Resino, apoel nicosia, atletico madrid, champions league, cheer, CHELSEA, clash, equaliser, Europe, Fernando, group stage, injury time, Juan, knockout stages, leveller, Lisbon, MADRID, Manchester, match, midfielder, Nicosia, Paulo, paulo assuncao, pitch, PORTO, portugal, Primera Division, Ruben Perez, Sergio Rodriguez, setback, short trip, Valencia, Vicente Calderon, wednesday night

Roberto: We need to win

September 25, 2009

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Roberto has urged his team-mates to dig deep and produce a result at Valencia as they try desperately to turn their season around.

Los Rojiblancos are in something of a crisis following a dreadful start to the season and coach Abel Resino is clinging on to his job by an ever-thinning thread.

There were calls for his dismissal during Wednesday’s home draw with Almeria which left them second from bottom of the Primera Division table.

Atletico travel to Valencia, for a match which is a must-win affair for both teams, looking for their first away points of the season and Roberto knows just how much the three points would mean.

“The team really needs a victory,” he said.

“We had it in the match against Almeria until they levelled in the final moment.

“We didn’t expect that goal and it affects you in the hours after the game.

“Then, you get home, you go to sleep and you wake up with a different attitude, with a desire to train and move on.

“All of the team members look forward to coming to work and we’re aware that we have the chance to win and resolve this situation every three days.

“Now we have to grit our teeth and fight to achieve our goals.”

Raul Garcia, Mariano Pernia and Ignacio Camacho are injured, while Sergio Asenjo, Alvaro Dominguez and Leandro Cabrera have been called up to the Under-20 World Cup and are also missing.

Valencia have hit a bit of a slump of late following an impressive start to the season.

Los Che were one of four sides to win the opening two games and looked certain to make it three on the trot last weekend until surrendering a late goal at home to Sporting Gijon.

That disappointing 2-2 tie was then followed by a miserable 3-1 defeat at Getafe and Hedwiges Maduro is desperate to get back to winning ways at the Mestalla.

“Against Atletico we have to show intensity and motivation,” he said.

“It’s a good game to do that because we have to give a victory to our fans at home.

“We’re all working to the maximum to achieve the three points.

“The only answer is to win, showing our qualities.

“Winning a game is not easy. But we have only just suffered our first defeat and it’s not a problem.

“Now we all have to improve and learn from our mistakes. Wednesday’s was an odd game but we have to face the next one and we will do it with great desire to win.”

However, Unai Emery will be without Ruben Baraja, Angel Dealbert, Manuel Fernandes, Asier del Horno, Nacho Gonzalez and Vicente, who all look set to miss out through injury.

The Mestalla fans will be hoping David Villa continues his fantastic start to the season, with the Spain striker having scored five goals in four matches.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abel, Abel Resino, almeria, Angel Dealbert, atletico madrid, Che, DAVID VILLA, getafe, Goalkeeper, Gonzalez, good game, hedwiges maduro, ignacio camacho, manuel fernandes, mariano pernia, Primera Division, raul garcia, Roberto, ruben baraja, Sergio Asenjo, slump, Spain, sporting gijon, team mates, team members, two games, Valencia, Vicente, winning ways, World Cup

Velez maintain perfect record

August 30, 2009

Defending Argentinian champions Velez Sarsfield maintain their perfect record in this year’s edition of the Primera Division, beating Arsenal 3-1 on Saturday.

Nicolas Otamendi put Velez ahead after 23 minutes against Arsenal de Sarandi, and Hernan Lopez made it 2-0 shortly after the hour.

Cristian Alvarez pulled one back for the visiting side in minute 70, but Maximiliano Moralez netted for 3-1, the final result, eight minutes later.

Estudiantes also won their second game in a row, beating Gimnasia La Plata 3-0. Rosario Central defeated Tigre 1-2 and have six points from their first two matches as well.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: alvarez, arsenal de sarandi, Cristian Alvarez, final result, La Plata, maximiliano moralez, Nicolas Otamendi, Primera Division, Rosario, rosario central, second game, six points

Babic makes a Spanish return with Zaragoza

August 20, 2009

Croatian defender Marko Babic has joined Primera Liga outfit Real Zaragoza as a free agent as he makes a return to the Primera Division side.

The 28-year-old moves to Spain after being released by Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.

Babic, who has won 49 caps for his country, becomes Zaragoza’s sixth signing of a busy summer as they prepare for life back in the Spanish top-flight.

He has prior experience of life in the Primera Liga from a two-year stint at Real Betis between 2007 and January 2009.

Babic began his career in his homeland with Osijek and was a part of the Bayer Leverkusen team that lost in the Champions Leagu final of 2002 against Real Madrid.

He could yet be joined at Zaragoza by Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo, with Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men the favourites to land the highly-rated frontman.

Abhimanyu Rajput