Malaga vs Villareal

Live and Picks : Malaga come into the game after a 3-1 win away at Racing Santander, a much needed second away win of the season and one that ensured Malaga hang onto the Europa League spot that they aim to occupy at the end of the campaign.Showing on this channel. Malaga have a fair few injuries heading into the game with defender Weligton, captain Jesus Gamez, powerful striker Julio Baptista and midfielder Joaquin Sanchez all missing tonight's game.Villarreal climbed up to second in the Primera Division standings after seeing off 10-man Malaga in a hugely entertaining encounter at La Rosaleda.




All the key incidents came during a breathless first half, which saw hosts Malaga take an early lead through Eliseu Pereira before Villarreal hit back with goals from Santi Cazorla and Giuseppe Rossi.
Malaga, looking for their first home win since beating Villarreal 2-0 in March of last season, levelled the scores when Jose Salomon Rondon headed home but the Yellow Submarine restored their lead in the 33rd minute, with Cazorla netting his second.
That proved to be the winning goal as Malaga could find no way back, and Eliseu was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute.
Villarreal went into the clash having won three successive league matches since losing to Espanyol on the opening day of the season but they were quickly on the back foot after conceding just four minutes in.
A short free-kick was played to the corner of the penalty area where Eliseu smashed an unstoppable left-footed shot in off the underside off the bar with Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez motionless.
The visitors were back on terms 16 minutes later, though, thanks to Cazorla, whose shot from the corner of the box took a deflection off Malaga midfielder Antonio Apono before beating Ruben Martinez at his near post.

Barclays Premier League Week 13 Preview

Source: bleacherreport.com: Another weekend is nearly upon us and there is no doubt that this one will be just as exciting or more so than the last.

Both of the league-leading Manchester clubs will be tested once again, and Liverpool will have the chance to truly prove they are improving when they take on the Sky Blues at Anfield in front of a packed Kop.


CHELSEA VS WOLVES
Chelsea thought that they could pull off a late victory over Liverpool as their second half looked to be heading that way in the first 20 minutes, but the Reds turned the table slowly and it would prove fatal to Andre Villas-Boas' side.

The Blues should have little trouble with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the thought of a third straight loss at the Bridge is more than they could handle.

MAN UTD VS NEWCASTLE

Manchester United continued to improve their defensive record with another clean sheet against Swansea City for a quiet third victory in a row. But, a win is a win in the EPL and the Red Devils will hope to build on their streak when they host Newcastle United.

The Magpies have had a flying start to their season, but the games like last week's against Manchester City and this week's against United are the ones that define your season. If they are to be considered for a legitimate top-four place, they have to beat the best teams in the league.


ARSENAL VS FULHAM
Arsenal are on the hottest streak in the league right now, aside from Manchester City, with five straight victories and 15 points from their last 18 possible. Robin van Persie's league-leading 13 goals are a testament to the importance the Dutchman has been so far for Arsene Wenger as his defense is still not doing the job.

Fulham continue to have a frustrating start after having slumped to another draw last weekend against Sunderland. Two wins in their last six games is not enough for Martin Jol or his squad.

LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY
Liverpool shocked everyone that doubted them last weekend against Chelsea. Kenny Dalglish opted for Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy in the starting lineup over Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll and it proved a good gamble.

But it would be Glen Johnson who stole the show for the Reds as he took center stage with his late individual effort to give his side the victory.

Manchester City defeated the only other unbeaten team last weekend when they knocked Newcastle United out of their high seat and back to reality. After seeing the Reds beat Chelsea and should have beaten Manchester United, it is proven they can get up for big games and could be a surprise club that could take down the Citizens.


STOKE VS BLACKBURN
With the tough home-and-away schedule that has pushed them to the brink due to their Europa League involvement, they could be able to take advantage of a relaxed squad on Thursday night in order to have their strongest side ready for a must-win match against Blackburn Rovers.

In the last six games, Rovers have managed three draws and three losses, hardly ideal for a club that wants to at least stay up in the EPL. Steve Keane continues to have the belief of the owners, but as for the fans, they want him out yesterday.

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ASRoma vs Udnese Preview

Source: Espn - Roma coach Luciano Spalletti looks set to rest captain Francesco Totti for tomorrow's Serie A match against Udinese to ensure his fitness for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Arsenal.
Totti has a knee problem and is not likely to feature tomorrow as a precaution, with Wednesday's game very much in mind.
"Totti still feels pain on his knee,'' said Roma's fitness trainer Vito Scala. "Our aim is to recover Totti for Wednesday's game against Arsenal.''
The Eternal City outfit lost 1-0 to the Premier League side in the first-leg meeting in London and will be looking to overturn that result and reach the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for a second consecutive year.
But first, Roma must turn their attention back to domestic matters as they look to cut the gap to third-placed AC Milan.
With 12 games remaining, Spalletti's side occupy sixth spot, four points behind the Rossoneri - who hold the last automatic Champions League berth.
If results go their way, Roma could go into next week's European showdown already in fourth spot.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina are two points clear of Roma while Genoa, in fifth, are one point ahead of the Giallorossi.

With Fiorentina entertaining Palermo and Genoa facing a huge challenge when they host league leaders Inter Milan this weekend, Roma fans will be hoping their team can climb up in the standings.
However, Spalletti faces selection problems with just one striker - Vincenzo Montella - definitely fit for the clash against Udinese.
Jeremy Menez and Julio Baptista are both out of action with the flu and team's top scorer Mirko Vucinic is struggling with a back injury.
Spalletti hopes to recover Vucinic, who has notched eight goals so far this season.
The Giallorossi will be looking to bounce back after the disappointment of letting slip a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Inter in their last Serie A clash last weekend.
"It's difficult to be happy with this result especially when my team played with such intensity,'' admitted Spalletti.



The Giallorossi will fancy their chances for they have not lost at the Stadio Olimpico since October 19 while Udinese have failed to win on the road in the last four months.
However, the Friuli outfit go into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico in buoyant mood with last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Lecce extending their advantage over the drop zone to 11 points.
Udinese defender Felipe believes his team will have plenty of motivation to take home three points.
"You are always more fired up when you play against top teams,'' he said. "We have lost many points on the road this campaign and now we have to recover them, starting on Saturday.
"Three points against Roma would be crucial for our aim to avoid the drop, which is right now our aim.''
Udinese coach Pasquale Marino will be without the services of striker Fabio Quagliarella and defender Aleksandar Lukovic. The former is out with a fever and the latter struggling with a problematic knee.
Moreover, defender Maurizio Domizzi must serve a one-match ban.
Watch Game Here

AC Milan vs FC barcelona:Key battles! Watch Live

The Serie A Champions welcome their Spanish counterparts to the Giuseppe Meazza on the match day 5 of Group H. With both the European giants having been in exceptional form lately, and the first match ending in a dramatic 2-2 draw, a nail biting encounter is predicted at the San Siro.

Venue: San Siro - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan

Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Kick Off: 7:45 PM GMT

AC Milan news:

Expected lineup:  Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Silva, Antonini; Aquilani, Ambrosini, Nocerino; Seedorf, Ibrahimovic, Pato

With a number of players returning from injury and suspension, Massimilano Allegri will have a wide range to choose his starting XI from. Seedorf is most likely to start ahead of Boateng behind the too strikers, as his vast experience gives him an edge over the Ghanayan mid fielder. However, Boateng, Robinho and Ambrosini are likely to be seen in the second half of the match to equal the stamina of the fast paced Catalans. Alexandre Pato will see his return from injury against the Spanish giants; the Brazilian came on late at the weekend in the match against Fiorentina and put on a good performance for the Rossoneri. Cassano and Gattuso are both out with long term injuries. The former is, however, showing signs of recovery as he visited his team mates at the milanello training centre Monday afternoon. Milan will be looking to pile pressure on the current Champions from the start by pushing players high up the field to avoid granting Barcelona with all the possession – their most lethal weapon (after Messi).

Man to Watch: Zlatan Ibrahimović

Without a doubt, all eyes will be on the big Swede on Wednesday night as he faces his former club, which he left following a protracted controversy. He has been catching headlines for both the good, and the bad reasons lately, with the latter cancelling out the effect of the former, following the recent release of his controversial autobiography, which contains a plethora of negative remarks about his ex-teammates and Coach Pep Guardiola. Ibrahimovic will be the only one in the Milan squad who will play this match with a burning desire to win, so If Milan have any chances of beating Barcelona, their strategies will be highly dependent on the prolific goal scorer and his Brazilian strike partner.

Barcelona news:

Expected lineup: Valdes; Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Abidal; Busquets, Xavi; Fabregas, Sanchez; Villa, Messi

There are many facts and figures which underpin the intensity of this match. On one side, Alexandre Pato scored the fifth fastest goal in the history of the competition (24 seconds) at Camp Nou in the 2-2 draw on September 13, 2011, and on the other, the Spanish side have outscored their opponents 9-0 in their last two away matches in Group H. Pep Guardiola was hit by a storm of an injury ahead of the clash as he will have to make do without the services of Andres Iniesta. The midfielder picked up a thigh injury in Saturday's 4-0 Liga win over Zaragoza and Barca have now revealed on their official website that Iniesta has not been included in the match squad for the crunch clash at San Siro. Another setback is that of Dani Alves, who is suspended for this match day. Sergio Busquets tried to cool down the situation regarding Barcelona and Ibra after the midfielder insisted that his side will not be looking for revenge against AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Wednesday's Champions League match. "We are thinking about Milan, not just one particular player, this is Milan v Barca, not Ibrahimovic v Barca.” Busquets told a press conference. The Blaugrana will secure qualification for the last 16 as group leader if they win in Milan.

Man to Watch: Lionel Messi

Arguably the best footballer in the world right now, Lio is the joint top scorer in the Champions League with five goals to his name. The in-form striker found the back of the net in the 4-0 win over Zaragoza at the weekend. Surely, the lightning quick star will pose the biggest threat to the Italian side. In the last encounter between the two sides, Messi was excellently managed by Veteran defender Alessandro Nesta. Can the Milan backline manage to cope up with his fast pace and one-touch football to stop him from finding the back of the net? Only time will tell…

The most anticipated match of this Champions League round will provide a nail biting 90 minutes for all football lovers. Barcelona are likely to be the dominant force in the game, but provided the advantages of the home stadium, and an injury-hit Iniesta, the Rossoneri might just clinch a narrow victory to go into the last match day on top of Group H.

AC MILAN 1 – 1 BARCELONA

source: http://www.sportpulse.net

Preview Patriots vs Chiefs!

1. Will the defense continue to improve?

New England's defense made strides in last week's 37-16 victory against the New York Jets. But this often-criticized unit still has a lot to prove. The Patriots remained last in total defense entering Week 11. But New England has the NFL's easiest remaining schedule. Also, playing against Kansas City backup quarterback Tyler Palko should help. Expect New England, which had five sacks last week, to be fearless in pressuring Palko. The Patriots have to feel confident Palko cannot beat them with his arm.

2. What does Romeo Crennel have in store?

Very few coaches know New England's personnel better than Kansas City defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. He was the Patriots' defensive coordinator during their three Super Bowl titles last decade. Crennel's defenses had to practice every day against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and many are curious to see what Crennel draws up against his former team. Kansas City playing stellar defense is one of the few ways the Chiefs can pull off the upset.

3. Can the Patriots stay injury-free?

The last time the Patriots played the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury. This is exactly the type of thing New England needs to avoid Monday night. The Patriots are expected to win this game pretty convincingly. But that doesn't mean it won't be a physical game. The best thing New England can do is jump on Kansas City early, then allow some of the Patriots' key players to rest in the fourth quarter.
Match Link Here

source nfl nation.com

Barcelona vs Ac Milan UEFA Champions League Preview 1

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has described next week's Champions League Group H clash against Barcelona as being like a "final".The Italian also said Pep Guardiola's men are the best in the world as he looks forward to the return of domestic and European action after the international break.

Milan will be hoping to overtake Barcelona in the standings as the Spanish side currently lead Allegri's men by two points.

"Barcelona are the strongest team and so we have to see the game as if it is a final," Allegri told the press.

"But, for now, what counts is Saturday's [Serie A] game against Fiorentina."

Earlier, club CEO Adriano Galliani said he had always dreamed of signing Chelsea's Didier Drogba, but the coach has other ideas.

"It's all just rumours. We are getting close to the transfer market and so the usual games are being played," he added.

"We have to see what we may need. Who knows, we might not even sign anyone in January."

Milan travel to Fiorentina on Saturday night and kick-off at the Artemio Franchi is at 19.45CET. 

Ronaldo fit to face Valencia

Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo will feature against Valencia after shaking off an injury he picked up on international duty on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old sustained a thigh strain in Portugal's 6-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Karanka has confirmed that Ronaldo is fit to play on Saturday but revealed that Kaka and Ricardo Carvalho would not make the trip to Mestalla.

"Cristiano trained yesterday and the day before yesterday. He's fine. Marcelo is in the squad-list, but Kaka isn't. Nuri Sahin might play depending on how the match goes.

"Carvalho is still recovering and feeling better every day. He is working with a lot of will."

Karanka then warned Madrid fans not to expect a repeat of last season's 6-3 win over los Che at Mestalla.

"Last season's match against Valencia wasn't normal. Tomorrow's will be totally different as Mestalla is one of those stadiums where you win important points."

The 38-year-old also spoke about Hamit Altintop's comments that he was not playing enough and could leave the club, saying the Turk is training with renewed vigour.

"Altintop has returned from playing with Turkey with more desire to train."

Finally, Karanka spoke out about the racism row currently embroiling Fifa president Sepp Blatter, stating his belief that footballers should be examples to the community.

"People have got to be careful with racist comments. We are an example for lots of kids."
Source: Goal.com

England striker Wayne Rooney is set to learn the outcome of his appeal against his three-match ban for violent conduct on December 9, Uefa has revealed.

The Manchester United forward was handed the suspension following his off-the-ball clash with Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during the two sides' Group G Euro 2012 qualifier 7 October.

However, the FA submitted an appeal on November 4 against the ban, which currently rules Rooney out of the group stages of next summer's European Championships, and it is poised to learn the outcome when Uefa’s Appeals Body meets in Nyon.

Rooney missed out on a call-up for England’s two recent friendly matches against Spain and Sweden as Fabio Capello experiments with the other forwards at his disposal given that the Manchester United man will miss all of the group games in Ukraine and Poland if his full ban is upheld.

Uefa to review England striker Wayne Rooney's three-match Euro 2012 ban

England striker Wayne Rooney is set to learn the outcome of his appeal against his three-match ban for violent conduct on December 9, Uefa has revealed.

The Manchester United forward was handed the suspension following his off-the-ball clash with Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic during the two sides' Group G Euro 2012 qualifier 7 October.

However, the FA submitted an appeal on November 4 against the ban, which currently rules Rooney out of the group stages of next summer's European Championships, and it is poised to learn the outcome when Uefa’s Appeals Body meets in Nyon.

Rooney missed out on a call-up for England’s two recent friendly matches against Spain and Sweden as Fabio Capello experiments with the other forwards at his disposal given that the Manchester United man will miss all of the group games in Ukraine and Poland if his full ban is upheld.