Sunday, December 11, 2011
FIFA - 9:00 AM
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo confirms interest in Manchester City's Carlos Tevez
The French club have revealed that they enquired over a possible move for the Argentine last summer but fear they may lose out to AC Milan in the race to sign him
Asia - 8:41 AM
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Monterrey (4-3 pens): J-League champions reach semi-finals after penalty shootout victory
Japanese side keep alive hopes of an all-Asian final after knocking out the Concacaf champions
Germany - 8:31 AM
Koln's Lukas Podolski indifferent to Schalke interest
The Germany international has recently been linked with a move to the Gelsenkirchen side, but the attacker remains coy about his future, insisting that his focus is on the pitch
England - 7:11 AM
Phil Jones hopes for redemption in the eyes of Manchester United fans following victory over Wolves
Youngster says the Red Devils 'owed' the emphatic victory over Mick McCarthy's men to those who travelled to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Basel in the Champions League
England - 7:00 AM
Premier League Preview: Chelsea - Manchester City
The Eastlands club is yet to lose a game in the Premier League this season, having had a fantastic start with 12 wins and two draws in the 14 games they have played
England - 6:40 AM
Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh keen to return to Bordeaux next summer
After a bright start to his Emirates career, the Moroccan has been consigned to the role of a substitute with the Gunners and is keen to avoid spending his peak years on the bench
England - 6:01 AM
Harry Redknapp wants Emmanuel Adebayor to join Tottenham on a permanent basis
Spurs boss also says he does not envision Chelsea getting rid of Frank Lampard, insisting that the midfielder is 'a legend at Chelsea and I can't see him leaving'
Italy - 5:59 AM
Maicon agrees with Claudio Ranieri's claim that Inter's treble-winning side is a thing of the past
The Brazilian defender admits that the all-conquering Nerazzurri line-up of 2010 is dead and gone and the focus now must be on building for the future
England - 5:01 AM
Andre Villas-Boas: Chelsea is working on renewing Petr Cech's contract
Portuguese boss rubbishes 'false stories' about the Czech Republic international leaving Stamford Bridge, and confirms that the club are trying to renew the goalkeeper's contract
England - 4:34 AM
Blues defender Franck Leboeuf: David Silva reminds me of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola
Former France international believes Andre Villas-Boas must treat the Stamford Bridge showdown as an FA Cup tie to give his club a chance of title glory against the league leaders
Spain - 4:00 AM
El Clasico in pictures: A look back at Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga
A recap of Los Blancos’ home loss to their arch rivals in the Primera Division at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday through defining images.
England - 3:17 AM
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri: Manchester United is more of a title threat than Chelsea
Frenchman also says that when they visit London on Sunday, Roberto Mancini's men aim to play the kind of football that saw Liverpool secure a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge recently
Germany - 3:00 AM
The stats that show Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger is the most influential defensive player in the world
The talismanic midfielder led die Roten to Europe's best defensive record and his absence due to injury has exposed the weakness of the Bavarian defense.
England - 2:58 AM
Robin van Persie continues Premier League record quest to mark Arsenal's 125th anniversary in style
In a day of pomp and celebration of Gunners folklore, the club's current captain underlined his worth to Arsene Wenger's side in both statistics and sentiment.
Americans Abroad - 12:18 AM
Oguchi Onyewu scores only goal as Sporting beats Nacional 1-0
Gooch gave Sporting a valuable 1-0 win over Nacional to keep the Lisbon-based side in touching distance atop the table.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Spain - 8:53 PM
Real Madrid's Iker Casillas defends Cristiano Ronaldo after Clasico loss
The keeper says any criticism following the home defeat should be directed towards the team and not just at one player.
Americans Abroad - 8:08 PM
Americans Abroad 2011-2012
Check in on the top U.S. players in leagues around the world with Goal.com's running coverage of Americans abroad.
Mexicans Abroad - 8:00 PM
Mexicans Abroad 2011-2012
Check out the latest stats and results of the top Mexican players in the top leagues around the world.
Europe - 7:46 PM
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas after Clasico victory over Real Madrid: It is a very special day for me
The 24-year-old spoke of the happiness he felt in defeating Jose Mourinho's men and how a tactical change was behind the impressive result in Madrid.
Europe - 7:30 PM
Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso: Barcelona's second goal really hurt us
The midfielder stressed that he Catalan club's goal in the 53rd minute was the game changing moment but insisted the club is still in a "privileged position" in the table
Spain - 7:20 PM
Capital punishment for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid as Barcelona shows it isn't ready to be dethroned just yet
Pep Guardiola remains unbeaten as a coach at the Bernabeu as the Catalans recorded what could turn out to be a hugely significant victory over their arch rivals in El Clasico.
Spain - 7:18 PM
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos: It always hurts more to lose to Barcelona in the Clasico
The Spanish international bemoaned his side's bad luck in the home defeat to the Blaugrana, but insisted that los Blancos must bounce back quickly in the title race.
Europe - 7:00 PM
Ligue 1 Round 17 Results: Leaders Montpellier falls to shock defeat, as PSG closes in at the top
Leaders Montpellier was defeated 1-0 by Daniel Sanchez's men as Marseille and Bordeaux played out a 0-0 draw.
Spain - 6:58 PM
Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Defeat to Barcelona in the Clasico is not a failure
The Portuguese boss chose to ignore the inevitable claims that the Blancos failed in their mission to displace their archrivals, but feels Lionel Messi should have been sent off
Europe - 6:55 PM
Player Ratings: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
Goal.com rates the players as the Catalans come from behind to seal a hugely important victory away to their biggest rival at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Spain - 6:45 PM
Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola delighted with performance in Clasico win over Real Madrid
The Spanish tactician heaped praise on the bravery of his players, but quickly played down suggestions of a Real Madrid collapse after the loss
Europe - 6:39 PM
Serie A Round 15 Results: Klose nets last gasp winner for Lazio against Lecce
The table is now beginning to shape itself in the Italian top flight, as Genoa claims a long overdue away scalp at Siena, with Rodrigo Palacio marking his return with a goal.
Spain - 6:30 PM
Xavi insists Barcelona is 'far superior' to Real Madrid after Clasico victory
The Catalan playmaker feels his side has now proved that its hold a significant advantage over Jose Mourinho's men, before plugging teammate Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or
Europe - 5:55 PM
Inter's Claudio Ranieri dismisses notion of 'turning point' after victory over Fiorentina
The Inter boss has urged people not to treat the club's win over the Viola on Saturday as the start of a resurgence, but believes his team overcame a test of its pride
Europe - 5:52 PM
Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Sanchez, Fabregas and a Marcelo own goal send Barcelona top of La Liga
Pep Guardiola's men showed excellent resilience to bounce back from going a goal down after 22 seconds to defeat their bitter rivals 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu
Transfer Zone - 5:10 PM
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: With Carlos Tevez we would have the best attack in the world
The Manchester City forward has been linked with a switch to San Siro, however, Paris Saint-Germain has also reportedly made a move for the Argentine
Italy - 5:01 PM
Player Ratings: Inter 2-0 Fiorentina
Giampaolo Pazzini and Yuto Nagatomo blasted the Nerazzurri back to winning ways, with Philippe Coutinho also highly influential
Spain - 4:40 PM
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores fastest-ever Clasico goal against Barcelona
The French hitman netted just 22 seconds into the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, declaring him as the quickest goalscorer in the derby's history
Italy - 4:37 PM
Inter 2-0 Fiorentina: Pazzini and Nagatomo lead Ranieri's side back to winning ways
The reigning world champions ended their recent slump with a convincing performance, with goals either side of halftime capping a largely dominant outing
Spain - 4:10 PM
Player Ratings: Real Betis 2-1 Valencia
Goal.com rates the players on show in Pepe Mel's side's stunning late victory in which two injury-time goals sent the visitors home with a heartbreaking defeat
Spain - 3:52 PM
Betis 2-1 Valencia: Visitors stunned as Castro nets twice in injury-time to hand Pepe Mel's side first win in 11
Los Che surrender a goal advantage in the final minutes to end a forgettable week for Unai Emery's side which has seen itself knocked out of the Champions League
Spain - 3:20 PM
Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil start for Real Madrid as Barcelona names Cesc Fabregas up front and leaves out David Villa for El Clasico
The Frenchman begins in attack for Jose Mourinho's men, while there is no place in the Barca lineup for Spain striker Villa as Pep Guardiola names a four-man defense
Europe - 2:25 PM
Hannover 0-0 Leverkusen: Both sides wasteful in front of goal as Bundesliga clash ends in stalemate
The visiting side remains outside the top four after neither team could find a breakthrough in a dull game devoid of much goalmouth action.
Europe - 1:51 PM
Levante 1-0 Sevilla: Nano goal helps Valencia-based club move five points clear in fourth spot in La Lig
Juan Ignacio Martinez's side ended its winless streak against the Rojiblancos and continued the club's best-ever start to a Liga campaign.
Europe - 12:10 PM
Player Ratings: Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle
Grant Holt proved the key for the home team but Demba Ba was unlucky to be on the losing side in a thriller at Carrow Road, while Dan Gosling had a game to forget.
England - 11:58 AM
Manchester United 4-1 Wolves: Nani and Wayne Rooney hit doubles as hosts make perfect response to Champions League exit
The England striker returned to form with two goals to lead the Red Devils to victory over Mick McCarthy's team as they bounced back from their midweek disappointment
Europe - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Manchester United 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Braces from Wayne Rooney and Nani ensure United bounces back in style after Champions League exit.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa: Home side falls to another poor defeat after Albrighton and Petrov strikes
Poor attacking initiative and scrappy defending leaves the home side missing out on three points again at the Reebok Stadium, as the Villans take all the spoils.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Liverpool 1-0 QPR: Luis Suarez header helps home side end frustrating run of Anfield draws
A tight game was decided by the Uruguayan striker but the home side dominated.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Swansea City 2-0 Fulham: Jol's side suffers disappointing defeat in Wales after Vorm saves late Dempsey penalty
The American inadvertently sliced the Swans' opener into the back of his own net, before missing from the penalty spot and seeing Danny Graham settle the match minutes later.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle: Ten-man Newcastle falls to second straight league defeat
Restored to the starting lineup, the Canaries skipper proved the difference as a hectic second half at Carrow Road saw Dan Gosling sent off for Alan Pardew's men.
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Everton
Robin Van Persie yet again steals show as Gunners eventually overcome their visitors courtesy of a fabulous left footed volley from the host's captain and talisman
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa
The visitors' attack proved more effective than the hosts' as the Villans were able to boss the Trotters' defense and grab their first away victory of the season
England - 11:55 AM
West Brom 1-2 Wigan Athletic: Martinez's men come from behind to earn pricless win and move out of relegation zone
Jordi Gomez scored from the spot to complete the Latics' second away comeback in a row after Steven Reid and Victor Moses had scored great first-half goals
England - 11:55 AM
Arsenal 1-0 Everton: Robin van Persie nets stunning second-half goal to give Gunners narrow triumph at the Emirates
Arsene Wenger's side sees in 125th anniversary of club in apt manner after RVP strikes emphatically late on to steal all three points
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Liverpool 1-0 QPR
The Reds dominated the game but were wasteful with their chances before Luis Suarez converted Charlie Adam's cross and allowed the hosts to hold on for all three points.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
what a weeeeeek
Sunday, December 11, 2011
FIFA - 9:00 AM
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo confirms interest in Manchester City's Carlos Tevez
The French club have revealed that they enquired over a possible move for the Argentine last summer but fear they may lose out to AC Milan in the race to sign him
Asia - 8:41 AM
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Monterrey (4-3 pens): J-League champions reach semi-finals after penalty shootout victory
Japanese side keep alive hopes of an all-Asian final after knocking out the Concacaf champions
Germany - 8:31 AM
Koln's Lukas Podolski indifferent to Schalke interest
The Germany international has recently been linked with a move to the Gelsenkirchen side, but the attacker remains coy about his future, insisting that his focus is on the pitch
England - 7:11 AM
Phil Jones hopes for redemption in the eyes of Manchester United fans following victory over Wolves
Youngster says the Red Devils 'owed' the emphatic victory over Mick McCarthy's men to those who travelled to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Basel in the Champions League
England - 7:00 AM
Premier League Preview: Chelsea - Manchester City
The Eastlands club is yet to lose a game in the Premier League this season, having had a fantastic start with 12 wins and two draws in the 14 games they have played
England - 6:40 AM
Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh keen to return to Bordeaux next summer
After a bright start to his Emirates career, the Moroccan has been consigned to the role of a substitute with the Gunners and is keen to avoid spending his peak years on the bench
England - 6:01 AM
Harry Redknapp wants Emmanuel Adebayor to join Tottenham on a permanent basis
Spurs boss also says he does not envision Chelsea getting rid of Frank Lampard, insisting that the midfielder is 'a legend at Chelsea and I can't see him leaving'
Italy - 5:59 AM
Maicon agrees with Claudio Ranieri's claim that Inter's treble-winning side is a thing of the past
The Brazilian defender admits that the all-conquering Nerazzurri line-up of 2010 is dead and gone and the focus now must be on building for the future
England - 5:01 AM
Andre Villas-Boas: Chelsea is working on renewing Petr Cech's contract
Portuguese boss rubbishes 'false stories' about the Czech Republic international leaving Stamford Bridge, and confirms that the club are trying to renew the goalkeeper's contract
England - 4:34 AM
Blues defender Franck Leboeuf: David Silva reminds me of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola
Former France international believes Andre Villas-Boas must treat the Stamford Bridge showdown as an FA Cup tie to give his club a chance of title glory against the league leaders
Spain - 4:00 AM
El Clasico in pictures: A look back at Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga
A recap of Los Blancos’ home loss to their arch rivals in the Primera Division at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday through defining images.
England - 3:17 AM
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri: Manchester United is more of a title threat than Chelsea
Frenchman also says that when they visit London on Sunday, Roberto Mancini's men aim to play the kind of football that saw Liverpool secure a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge recently
Germany - 3:00 AM
The stats that show Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger is the most influential defensive player in the world
The talismanic midfielder led die Roten to Europe's best defensive record and his absence due to injury has exposed the weakness of the Bavarian defense.
England - 2:58 AM
Robin van Persie continues Premier League record quest to mark Arsenal's 125th anniversary in style
In a day of pomp and celebration of Gunners folklore, the club's current captain underlined his worth to Arsene Wenger's side in both statistics and sentiment.
Americans Abroad - 12:18 AM
Oguchi Onyewu scores only goal as Sporting beats Nacional 1-0
Gooch gave Sporting a valuable 1-0 win over Nacional to keep the Lisbon-based side in touching distance atop the table.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Spain - 8:53 PM
Real Madrid's Iker Casillas defends Cristiano Ronaldo after Clasico loss
The keeper says any criticism following the home defeat should be directed towards the team and not just at one player.
Americans Abroad - 8:08 PM
Americans Abroad 2011-2012
Check in on the top U.S. players in leagues around the world with Goal.com's running coverage of Americans abroad.
Mexicans Abroad - 8:00 PM
Mexicans Abroad 2011-2012
Check out the latest stats and results of the top Mexican players in the top leagues around the world.
Europe - 7:46 PM
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas after Clasico victory over Real Madrid: It is a very special day for me
The 24-year-old spoke of the happiness he felt in defeating Jose Mourinho's men and how a tactical change was behind the impressive result in Madrid.
Europe - 7:30 PM
Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso: Barcelona's second goal really hurt us
The midfielder stressed that he Catalan club's goal in the 53rd minute was the game changing moment but insisted the club is still in a "privileged position" in the table
Spain - 7:20 PM
Capital punishment for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid as Barcelona shows it isn't ready to be dethroned just yet
Pep Guardiola remains unbeaten as a coach at the Bernabeu as the Catalans recorded what could turn out to be a hugely significant victory over their arch rivals in El Clasico.
Spain - 7:18 PM
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos: It always hurts more to lose to Barcelona in the Clasico
The Spanish international bemoaned his side's bad luck in the home defeat to the Blaugrana, but insisted that los Blancos must bounce back quickly in the title race.
Europe - 7:00 PM
Ligue 1 Round 17 Results: Leaders Montpellier falls to shock defeat, as PSG closes in at the top
Leaders Montpellier was defeated 1-0 by Daniel Sanchez's men as Marseille and Bordeaux played out a 0-0 draw.
Spain - 6:58 PM
Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Defeat to Barcelona in the Clasico is not a failure
The Portuguese boss chose to ignore the inevitable claims that the Blancos failed in their mission to displace their archrivals, but feels Lionel Messi should have been sent off
Europe - 6:55 PM
Player Ratings: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
Goal.com rates the players as the Catalans come from behind to seal a hugely important victory away to their biggest rival at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Spain - 6:45 PM
Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola delighted with performance in Clasico win over Real Madrid
The Spanish tactician heaped praise on the bravery of his players, but quickly played down suggestions of a Real Madrid collapse after the loss
Europe - 6:39 PM
Serie A Round 15 Results: Klose nets last gasp winner for Lazio against Lecce
The table is now beginning to shape itself in the Italian top flight, as Genoa claims a long overdue away scalp at Siena, with Rodrigo Palacio marking his return with a goal.
Spain - 6:30 PM
Xavi insists Barcelona is 'far superior' to Real Madrid after Clasico victory
The Catalan playmaker feels his side has now proved that its hold a significant advantage over Jose Mourinho's men, before plugging teammate Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or
Europe - 5:55 PM
Inter's Claudio Ranieri dismisses notion of 'turning point' after victory over Fiorentina
The Inter boss has urged people not to treat the club's win over the Viola on Saturday as the start of a resurgence, but believes his team overcame a test of its pride
Europe - 5:52 PM
Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Sanchez, Fabregas and a Marcelo own goal send Barcelona top of La Liga
Pep Guardiola's men showed excellent resilience to bounce back from going a goal down after 22 seconds to defeat their bitter rivals 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu
Transfer Zone - 5:10 PM
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: With Carlos Tevez we would have the best attack in the world
The Manchester City forward has been linked with a switch to San Siro, however, Paris Saint-Germain has also reportedly made a move for the Argentine
Italy - 5:01 PM
Player Ratings: Inter 2-0 Fiorentina
Giampaolo Pazzini and Yuto Nagatomo blasted the Nerazzurri back to winning ways, with Philippe Coutinho also highly influential
Spain - 4:40 PM
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores fastest-ever Clasico goal against Barcelona
The French hitman netted just 22 seconds into the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, declaring him as the quickest goalscorer in the derby's history
Italy - 4:37 PM
Inter 2-0 Fiorentina: Pazzini and Nagatomo lead Ranieri's side back to winning ways
The reigning world champions ended their recent slump with a convincing performance, with goals either side of halftime capping a largely dominant outing
Spain - 4:10 PM
Player Ratings: Real Betis 2-1 Valencia
Goal.com rates the players on show in Pepe Mel's side's stunning late victory in which two injury-time goals sent the visitors home with a heartbreaking defeat
Spain - 3:52 PM
Betis 2-1 Valencia: Visitors stunned as Castro nets twice in injury-time to hand Pepe Mel's side first win in 11
Los Che surrender a goal advantage in the final minutes to end a forgettable week for Unai Emery's side which has seen itself knocked out of the Champions League
Spain - 3:20 PM
Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil start for Real Madrid as Barcelona names Cesc Fabregas up front and leaves out David Villa for El Clasico
The Frenchman begins in attack for Jose Mourinho's men, while there is no place in the Barca lineup for Spain striker Villa as Pep Guardiola names a four-man defense
Europe - 2:25 PM
Hannover 0-0 Leverkusen: Both sides wasteful in front of goal as Bundesliga clash ends in stalemate
The visiting side remains outside the top four after neither team could find a breakthrough in a dull game devoid of much goalmouth action.
Europe - 1:51 PM
Levante 1-0 Sevilla: Nano goal helps Valencia-based club move five points clear in fourth spot in La Lig
Juan Ignacio Martinez's side ended its winless streak against the Rojiblancos and continued the club's best-ever start to a Liga campaign.
Europe - 12:10 PM
Player Ratings: Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle
Grant Holt proved the key for the home team but Demba Ba was unlucky to be on the losing side in a thriller at Carrow Road, while Dan Gosling had a game to forget.
England - 11:58 AM
Manchester United 4-1 Wolves: Nani and Wayne Rooney hit doubles as hosts make perfect response to Champions League exit
The England striker returned to form with two goals to lead the Red Devils to victory over Mick McCarthy's team as they bounced back from their midweek disappointment
Europe - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Manchester United 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Braces from Wayne Rooney and Nani ensure United bounces back in style after Champions League exit.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa: Home side falls to another poor defeat after Albrighton and Petrov strikes
Poor attacking initiative and scrappy defending leaves the home side missing out on three points again at the Reebok Stadium, as the Villans take all the spoils.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Liverpool 1-0 QPR: Luis Suarez header helps home side end frustrating run of Anfield draws
A tight game was decided by the Uruguayan striker but the home side dominated.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Swansea City 2-0 Fulham: Jol's side suffers disappointing defeat in Wales after Vorm saves late Dempsey penalty
The American inadvertently sliced the Swans' opener into the back of his own net, before missing from the penalty spot and seeing Danny Graham settle the match minutes later.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle: Ten-man Newcastle falls to second straight league defeat
Restored to the starting lineup, the Canaries skipper proved the difference as a hectic second half at Carrow Road saw Dan Gosling sent off for Alan Pardew's men.
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Everton
Robin Van Persie yet again steals show as Gunners eventually overcome their visitors courtesy of a fabulous left footed volley from the host's captain and talisman
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa
The visitors' attack proved more effective than the hosts' as the Villans were able to boss the Trotters' defense and grab their first away victory of the season
England - 11:55 AM
West Brom 1-2 Wigan Athletic: Martinez's men come from behind to earn pricless win and move out of relegation zone
Jordi Gomez scored from the spot to complete the Latics' second away comeback in a row after Steven Reid and Victor Moses had scored great first-half goals
England - 11:55 AM
Arsenal 1-0 Everton: Robin van Persie nets stunning second-half goal to give Gunners narrow triumph at the Emirates
Arsene Wenger's side sees in 125th anniversary of club in apt manner after RVP strikes emphatically late on to steal all three points
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Liverpool 1-0 QPR
The Reds dominated the game but were wasteful with their chances before Luis Suarez converted Charlie Adam's cross and allowed the hosts to hold on for all three points.
FIFA - 9:00 AM
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo confirms interest in Manchester City's Carlos Tevez
The French club have revealed that they enquired over a possible move for the Argentine last summer but fear they may lose out to AC Milan in the race to sign him
Asia - 8:41 AM
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Monterrey (4-3 pens): J-League champions reach semi-finals after penalty shootout victory
Japanese side keep alive hopes of an all-Asian final after knocking out the Concacaf champions
Germany - 8:31 AM
Koln's Lukas Podolski indifferent to Schalke interest
The Germany international has recently been linked with a move to the Gelsenkirchen side, but the attacker remains coy about his future, insisting that his focus is on the pitch
England - 7:11 AM
Phil Jones hopes for redemption in the eyes of Manchester United fans following victory over Wolves
Youngster says the Red Devils 'owed' the emphatic victory over Mick McCarthy's men to those who travelled to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Basel in the Champions League
England - 7:00 AM
Premier League Preview: Chelsea - Manchester City
The Eastlands club is yet to lose a game in the Premier League this season, having had a fantastic start with 12 wins and two draws in the 14 games they have played
England - 6:40 AM
Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh keen to return to Bordeaux next summer
After a bright start to his Emirates career, the Moroccan has been consigned to the role of a substitute with the Gunners and is keen to avoid spending his peak years on the bench
England - 6:01 AM
Harry Redknapp wants Emmanuel Adebayor to join Tottenham on a permanent basis
Spurs boss also says he does not envision Chelsea getting rid of Frank Lampard, insisting that the midfielder is 'a legend at Chelsea and I can't see him leaving'
Italy - 5:59 AM
Maicon agrees with Claudio Ranieri's claim that Inter's treble-winning side is a thing of the past
The Brazilian defender admits that the all-conquering Nerazzurri line-up of 2010 is dead and gone and the focus now must be on building for the future
England - 5:01 AM
Andre Villas-Boas: Chelsea is working on renewing Petr Cech's contract
Portuguese boss rubbishes 'false stories' about the Czech Republic international leaving Stamford Bridge, and confirms that the club are trying to renew the goalkeeper's contract
England - 4:34 AM
Blues defender Franck Leboeuf: David Silva reminds me of Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola
Former France international believes Andre Villas-Boas must treat the Stamford Bridge showdown as an FA Cup tie to give his club a chance of title glory against the league leaders
Spain - 4:00 AM
El Clasico in pictures: A look back at Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga
A recap of Los Blancos’ home loss to their arch rivals in the Primera Division at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday through defining images.
England - 3:17 AM
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri: Manchester United is more of a title threat than Chelsea
Frenchman also says that when they visit London on Sunday, Roberto Mancini's men aim to play the kind of football that saw Liverpool secure a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge recently
Germany - 3:00 AM
The stats that show Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger is the most influential defensive player in the world
The talismanic midfielder led die Roten to Europe's best defensive record and his absence due to injury has exposed the weakness of the Bavarian defense.
England - 2:58 AM
Robin van Persie continues Premier League record quest to mark Arsenal's 125th anniversary in style
In a day of pomp and celebration of Gunners folklore, the club's current captain underlined his worth to Arsene Wenger's side in both statistics and sentiment.
Americans Abroad - 12:18 AM
Oguchi Onyewu scores only goal as Sporting beats Nacional 1-0
Gooch gave Sporting a valuable 1-0 win over Nacional to keep the Lisbon-based side in touching distance atop the table.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Spain - 8:53 PM
Real Madrid's Iker Casillas defends Cristiano Ronaldo after Clasico loss
The keeper says any criticism following the home defeat should be directed towards the team and not just at one player.
Americans Abroad - 8:08 PM
Americans Abroad 2011-2012
Check in on the top U.S. players in leagues around the world with Goal.com's running coverage of Americans abroad.
Mexicans Abroad - 8:00 PM
Mexicans Abroad 2011-2012
Check out the latest stats and results of the top Mexican players in the top leagues around the world.
Europe - 7:46 PM
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas after Clasico victory over Real Madrid: It is a very special day for me
The 24-year-old spoke of the happiness he felt in defeating Jose Mourinho's men and how a tactical change was behind the impressive result in Madrid.
Europe - 7:30 PM
Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso: Barcelona's second goal really hurt us
The midfielder stressed that he Catalan club's goal in the 53rd minute was the game changing moment but insisted the club is still in a "privileged position" in the table
Spain - 7:20 PM
Capital punishment for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid as Barcelona shows it isn't ready to be dethroned just yet
Pep Guardiola remains unbeaten as a coach at the Bernabeu as the Catalans recorded what could turn out to be a hugely significant victory over their arch rivals in El Clasico.
Spain - 7:18 PM
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos: It always hurts more to lose to Barcelona in the Clasico
The Spanish international bemoaned his side's bad luck in the home defeat to the Blaugrana, but insisted that los Blancos must bounce back quickly in the title race.
Europe - 7:00 PM
Ligue 1 Round 17 Results: Leaders Montpellier falls to shock defeat, as PSG closes in at the top
Leaders Montpellier was defeated 1-0 by Daniel Sanchez's men as Marseille and Bordeaux played out a 0-0 draw.
Spain - 6:58 PM
Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Defeat to Barcelona in the Clasico is not a failure
The Portuguese boss chose to ignore the inevitable claims that the Blancos failed in their mission to displace their archrivals, but feels Lionel Messi should have been sent off
Europe - 6:55 PM
Player Ratings: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona
Goal.com rates the players as the Catalans come from behind to seal a hugely important victory away to their biggest rival at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Spain - 6:45 PM
Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola delighted with performance in Clasico win over Real Madrid
The Spanish tactician heaped praise on the bravery of his players, but quickly played down suggestions of a Real Madrid collapse after the loss
Europe - 6:39 PM
Serie A Round 15 Results: Klose nets last gasp winner for Lazio against Lecce
The table is now beginning to shape itself in the Italian top flight, as Genoa claims a long overdue away scalp at Siena, with Rodrigo Palacio marking his return with a goal.
Spain - 6:30 PM
Xavi insists Barcelona is 'far superior' to Real Madrid after Clasico victory
The Catalan playmaker feels his side has now proved that its hold a significant advantage over Jose Mourinho's men, before plugging teammate Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or
Europe - 5:55 PM
Inter's Claudio Ranieri dismisses notion of 'turning point' after victory over Fiorentina
The Inter boss has urged people not to treat the club's win over the Viola on Saturday as the start of a resurgence, but believes his team overcame a test of its pride
Europe - 5:52 PM
Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Sanchez, Fabregas and a Marcelo own goal send Barcelona top of La Liga
Pep Guardiola's men showed excellent resilience to bounce back from going a goal down after 22 seconds to defeat their bitter rivals 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu
Transfer Zone - 5:10 PM
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: With Carlos Tevez we would have the best attack in the world
The Manchester City forward has been linked with a switch to San Siro, however, Paris Saint-Germain has also reportedly made a move for the Argentine
Italy - 5:01 PM
Player Ratings: Inter 2-0 Fiorentina
Giampaolo Pazzini and Yuto Nagatomo blasted the Nerazzurri back to winning ways, with Philippe Coutinho also highly influential
Spain - 4:40 PM
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores fastest-ever Clasico goal against Barcelona
The French hitman netted just 22 seconds into the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, declaring him as the quickest goalscorer in the derby's history
Italy - 4:37 PM
Inter 2-0 Fiorentina: Pazzini and Nagatomo lead Ranieri's side back to winning ways
The reigning world champions ended their recent slump with a convincing performance, with goals either side of halftime capping a largely dominant outing
Spain - 4:10 PM
Player Ratings: Real Betis 2-1 Valencia
Goal.com rates the players on show in Pepe Mel's side's stunning late victory in which two injury-time goals sent the visitors home with a heartbreaking defeat
Spain - 3:52 PM
Betis 2-1 Valencia: Visitors stunned as Castro nets twice in injury-time to hand Pepe Mel's side first win in 11
Los Che surrender a goal advantage in the final minutes to end a forgettable week for Unai Emery's side which has seen itself knocked out of the Champions League
Spain - 3:20 PM
Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil start for Real Madrid as Barcelona names Cesc Fabregas up front and leaves out David Villa for El Clasico
The Frenchman begins in attack for Jose Mourinho's men, while there is no place in the Barca lineup for Spain striker Villa as Pep Guardiola names a four-man defense
Europe - 2:25 PM
Hannover 0-0 Leverkusen: Both sides wasteful in front of goal as Bundesliga clash ends in stalemate
The visiting side remains outside the top four after neither team could find a breakthrough in a dull game devoid of much goalmouth action.
Europe - 1:51 PM
Levante 1-0 Sevilla: Nano goal helps Valencia-based club move five points clear in fourth spot in La Lig
Juan Ignacio Martinez's side ended its winless streak against the Rojiblancos and continued the club's best-ever start to a Liga campaign.
Europe - 12:10 PM
Player Ratings: Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle
Grant Holt proved the key for the home team but Demba Ba was unlucky to be on the losing side in a thriller at Carrow Road, while Dan Gosling had a game to forget.
England - 11:58 AM
Manchester United 4-1 Wolves: Nani and Wayne Rooney hit doubles as hosts make perfect response to Champions League exit
The England striker returned to form with two goals to lead the Red Devils to victory over Mick McCarthy's team as they bounced back from their midweek disappointment
Europe - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Manchester United 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Braces from Wayne Rooney and Nani ensure United bounces back in style after Champions League exit.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Aston Villa: Home side falls to another poor defeat after Albrighton and Petrov strikes
Poor attacking initiative and scrappy defending leaves the home side missing out on three points again at the Reebok Stadium, as the Villans take all the spoils.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Liverpool 1-0 QPR: Luis Suarez header helps home side end frustrating run of Anfield draws
A tight game was decided by the Uruguayan striker but the home side dominated.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Swansea City 2-0 Fulham: Jol's side suffers disappointing defeat in Wales after Vorm saves late Dempsey penalty
The American inadvertently sliced the Swans' opener into the back of his own net, before missing from the penalty spot and seeing Danny Graham settle the match minutes later.
Europe - 11:55 AM
Norwich City 4-2 Newcastle: Ten-man Newcastle falls to second straight league defeat
Restored to the starting lineup, the Canaries skipper proved the difference as a hectic second half at Carrow Road saw Dan Gosling sent off for Alan Pardew's men.
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Everton
Robin Van Persie yet again steals show as Gunners eventually overcome their visitors courtesy of a fabulous left footed volley from the host's captain and talisman
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa
The visitors' attack proved more effective than the hosts' as the Villans were able to boss the Trotters' defense and grab their first away victory of the season
England - 11:55 AM
West Brom 1-2 Wigan Athletic: Martinez's men come from behind to earn pricless win and move out of relegation zone
Jordi Gomez scored from the spot to complete the Latics' second away comeback in a row after Steven Reid and Victor Moses had scored great first-half goals
England - 11:55 AM
Arsenal 1-0 Everton: Robin van Persie nets stunning second-half goal to give Gunners narrow triumph at the Emirates
Arsene Wenger's side sees in 125th anniversary of club in apt manner after RVP strikes emphatically late on to steal all three points
England - 11:55 AM
Player Ratings: Liverpool 1-0 QPR
The Reds dominated the game but were wasteful with their chances before Luis Suarez converted Charlie Adam's cross and allowed the hosts to hold on for all three points.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
match Facts
Champions League 2011-12
Wednesday 7 December 2011 19.45| Score line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Basel | 2 – 1 (HT 1 – 0) | Manchester United |
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| ||
| Bookings |
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| Basel | Tottenham Hotspur's Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 43% 43.0 | 57%57.0 |
| Corners | 222.0 | 778.0 |
| Goal attempts | 1235.0 | 2265.0 |
| On target | 545.0 | 655.0 |
| Fouls | 1341.0 | 1859.0 |
| Offside | 00.0 | 3100.0 |
| Basel |
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|---|---|
| Manchester United |
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| Referee | Bjorn Kuipers |
|---|---|
| Venue | St Jakob-Park |
what happened
Basel v Manchester United – as it happened
Basel stifle a dismally disappointing Manchester United team to secure a stunning, unexpected success
Champions League 2011-12
| Basel 2 |
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|---|---|
| Manchester United 1 |
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Basel's Alex Frei celebrates with team-mates after scoring his side's second goal against Manchester United. Photograph: Valeriano Di Domenico/AFP/Getty Images
Early arrivals were warned that I wasn't going to turn up until 7.30pm, and treated to highlights of our match preview. And I see no reason to deny you lucky latecomers a similar treat:
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the threat to Manchester United's Champions League status will guarantee there is no loss of focus from Wayne Rooney when the striker commences a crucial week in Switzerland against Basel.Read the full story here.
United must avoid defeat at the home of the Swiss champions to ensure they do not fall at the group stage of the Champions League for only the third time in 17 campaigns. Rooney's duties in Switzerland not only include leading a United attack weakened by injuries to Javier Hernández, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen but attending a disciplinary hearing at Uefa's headquarters in Nyon on Thursday morning that will decide whether he must serve a three-match suspension at next summer's European Championship.
Ferguson was sensitive enough to Rooney's despair after his dismissal for England against Montenegro in October to leave him out of the starting lineup in United's subsequent game at Liverpool. Rooney's value to United, and the need to remain on course for a fourth Champions League final appearance in five seasons, however, prompted Ferguson to dismiss any concerns that the 26-year-old could be distracted by off-field events in the Group C finale. "That is a different day," he said of Rooney's Uefa appeal. "This is a big game, an important game, and I don't think that will come into it at all."
United failed to qualify from the group stages only in 1994-95 and 2005-06. They face a Basel team who must win to join Benfica in the knockout phase and are on a fine run of 15 wins in their past 19 games in all competitions, although Ferguson – having lost only one away game in Europe since the 2007 semi-final defeat to Milan (finals against Barcelona excluded) – displayed supreme confidence in United's prospects of success ...
It's true, I'm not going to be here until 7.30pm. But Uefa have already sent me the teams and there's no reason why you should be made to wait for them. So here they are:
Basle: Sommer; Steinhöfer, Abraham, Dragovic, Park; Shaqiri, Cabral, Xhaka, F Frei; A Frei; Streller. Subs from: Colomba, Chipperfield, Stocker, Kasunga, Kovac, Zoua, Pak.Manchester United: De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Park, Giggs, Jones, Young; Nani; Rooney. Subs from: Lindegaard, Evans, Welbeck, Fletcher, Valencia, Macheda, Gibson.
Referee: B Kuipers (Ned).
United need a point to qualify; Basel know a victory would take them above their opponents, which sounds promising, but they must deal with the fact that their manager, Heiko Vogel, sounds like a character from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and not a human one at that.
Of course, it might have been different had Ashley Young not scored with a stoppage-time header to rescue a point for United in the home tie, after they had somehow parlayed a 2-0 half-time lead into a 3-2 last-minute deficit. Actually there's no might about it – it would have been different. It's a fact. United have only failed to escape from the group stage twice before, most recently six years ago today.And who knows what Douglas Adams would have made of someone called Granit Xhaka. Pronounced "granite shaker", I suppose. I've got a granite pestle and mortar, but that's another story.
Thanks to Robin Hazlehurst for rescuing this entry, which I thought had been lost in some kind of computerised hell
A couple of Basel stats: Alexander Frei has scored 15 goals in his last 16 club outings, including three penalties. They have won every one of their six league games since the appointment of Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz as manager in October.
What I want for Christmas. Please.
"This is the 300th European match for #MUFC," reports @InfostradaLive on Twitter. "They have won 161, drawn 80 and lost 58 of their previous 299 matches in Europe."
1 min: Peeeeep! They're off!
2 mins: Park, who has started in a very advanced position, finds Rooney, who had he only the gift of 360-degree vision could have backheeled Nani into an entire ocean of space on the right.
3 mins: United play about 20 passes across Basel's penalty area before Park eventually spanks a shot on the turn over the bar from 15 yards. This has started very promisingly for United.
5 mins: I can't remember a more one-sided first five minutes of an away game, not in even the most hopeless FA Cup third-round non-league v Premier League mis-match.
6 mins: Apparently Xhaka's name is pronounced like this.
7 mins: Basel mount an attack, which features three crosses into United's penalty area. The first De Gea punches when he might have caught, the second he leaves well alone, and the third he collects easily.
9mins: I don't mean (6 mins) that the commentator must sing the entirety of Chaka Khan's 1984 chart-topper I Feel For You every time they mention Basel's left-sided midfielder, just the first two syllables.
GOAL! Basel 1 Manchester United 0!
9 mins: I was just writing that the second five minutes had been considerably less one-sided than the first, when Basel only go and take the lead, as a low cross from the left is feebly palmed away by De Gea and Marco Streller volleys it home. As the cross came in, and still now, Chris Smalling was on the ground after a clash with Nemanja Vidic's elbow.
11 mins: Benfica are also winning, and as things stand would win the group, with Basel second.
12 mins: Smalling is back on his feet and United are back on the attack, though Nani's 20-yarder has flown over the bar.
15 mins: And so the stage is set, for a lot of United playing the ball however they like around the midfield as Basel defend deep.
16 mins: Bizarre corner, taken by Giggs. United's players start in a line, shoulder to shoulder, before breaking ranks as the kick is taken. Cabral is so bemused by this that when the ball drops to him, uncontested, 12 yards out, he bizarrely heads towards his own goal, quite powerfully. Fortunately he hits a team-mate.
17 mins: Having written about Basel's entrenchment, their centre-back David Abraham just launched himself into a 70-yard run into United's penalty area. The ball didn't follow him.
21 mins: United have had possession for the best part of the last two minutes, but haven't offered much of a threat. When Basel have got the ball, they've kicked it straight out to give United an attacking throw-in.
22.5 mins: So a quarter of the match has gone, and not at all as anticipated.
25 mins: "Long ago I used to watch Alex Frei play for Geneva Servette," writes Mark Gardberg of the Basel forward. "He seemed total rubbish but would consistently get on the score sheet, something like a Swiss Inzaghi (without the loathsome, annoying, cheating part). And the opposite of someone who seems brilliantly talented, but couldn't score on an empty pitch. Like … who do you reckon? Carroll?" Well, I'm not sure "brilliantly talented" would be the first words that come to mind.
27 mins: United try to tip-tap the ball through the middle, but run out of space with most of Basel's team in the way. As in the first meeting with Basel, they may need Ashley Young to help them out here.
28 mins: Xhaka is booked for fouling Rooney, a fairly cynical but violence-free trip. Can he concentrate despite the yellow card? If anyone can, Xhaka can. Xhaka can. Etc.
30 mins: Terrible miss! Nani beats his man on the right and sends in a lovely low cross. Rooney, at the far post, only needs to turn it into the empty net but he over-runs the ball, miskicks and accidentally sends it back to the far post, where Park misses the target.
33 mins: The Basel pitch is very heavy and muddy. If United don't get back into the game soon, they may knacker themselves out with the effort of running about on it.
34 mins: Lovely run from Nani but his cross is too high. Rooney rescues it, and Young heads his centre over the bar. "Speaking of Chaka Khan," writes Paulo Padilha, "some nice moves from Shaqiri in midfield just now. You could say when it comes to dribbling his hips don't lie, eh? Or does it mean they do lie, as that's the whole point of dribbling?" I'd have thought that while dribbling shoulders would certainly lie, eyes as well, legs even, but hips might be tough.
35 mins: A lovely reverse pass by Giggs releases Rooney in the area, but his first-time shot isn't that great and trundles straight down the middle of goal at the keeper.
36 mins: Another chance for United. The ball breaks towards Nani, haring into the area, but the keeper hares out of it and the pair reach the ball at about the same time. Nani's shot bounces off Sommeractually the sliding, covering Park and away.
38 mins: Basel's Park, who is having a difficult night against Nani, brings down the Portuguese wing-man right on the edge of the penalty area. Giggs rolls the free-kick across the penalty area, but Jones's shot is blocked.
39 mins: Manchester City are a goal up against Bayern Munich, and currently second in their group.
40 mins: "The Swiss might have their own way of pronouncing it, but, given Granit Xhaka's birthplace is Kosovo, I'm pretty sure he himself would use the Albanian pronunciation 'Djaka', which does open other (lesser) avenues of opportunity in the punning department," writes Oliver Farry. Spoilsport.
42 mins: Vidic has gone down holding his knee, and looks very unhappy indeed. What's more, he gave away a foul doing it.
43 mins: Streller fell on top of Vidic, having been fouled, and the knee twisted at a nasty angle. That's his night over.
43 mins: Jonny Evans has replaced Vidic, who seems much less agonised as he leaves the pitch, albeit on a stretcher.
45 mins: The first of three additional minutes is being played.
45+3 mins: Ashley Young gets booked, apparently only because the home fans demanded it.
45+3 mins: And that's half-time. Obviously it's a grim scoreline from United's point of view, but it's far from hopeless. They've had a lot of the ball, and though there are a lot of frustrated forward players in their ranks in Nani they have the game's oustanding player so far. He could create an equaliser at any moment, and could very well already have done so had Rooney not messed up his volley.
Half-time email update: "Thought you might like to know that Darragh Maloney, commentating on RTE, just called Evans a 'like for like' replacement for Vidic," reports James McNulty. "Surely the position alone isn't enough in that instance? Surely a goat is as much a like for like replacement as Norn Iron's finest?" I'll be charitable: they're both Manchester United-employed centre-backs, it's close enough.
Footballers eating food update: I'm told that Frank Lampard is having dinner at central London tapas bar Barrica, right now.
46 mins: Peeeeeeeep! They're off! Again!
48 mins: Shaqiri picks up the ball in midfield and for amoment there's an easy ball on to play, I think, Streller clean through. Shaqiri, though, ignores the pass, hangs on to the ball for much too long and then basically gives it away. He's a frustrating fella, that Shaqiri.
49 mins: Chance! Giggs plays Rooney in, down the left side of the penalty area. He checks onto his right foot and curls a shot only narrowly wide of the far post.
52 mins: Basel's first period of concerted pressure since, well, possibly ever. Steinhöfer crosses, Shaqiri picks it up at the edge of the area and tries a curler which isn't far off target (but far enough for De Gea to look very relaxed as it floated past).
53 mins: And City are now 2-0 up against Bayern Munich.
54 mins: Great save! Basel win a cheap free-kick 20 yards out and Alex Frei's effort would have dipped under the bar had De Gea not got his fingers to it.
57 mins: United need Young to look interested, and Nani to do a bit more crossing. That Rooney chance early in this half apart, it's not happening for them down the centre. They've started this half very poorly.
57 mins: Excellent tackle by Smalling, blocking the ball as Fabian Frei sent in a left-foot shot from goalscoring range. From the corner, Dragovic has a free header which he sends straight at De Gea.
59 mins: "I'm sitting here imagining Frank Lampard trying to ping olives into his own mouth from increasingly ludicrous distances, spraying them onto all the surrounding patrons, before finally getting one in via a deflection off his fork," writes Paul Fowler in response to news of the Chelsea' midfielder's tapas-eating status.
60 mins: Wonderful own-goal attempt! Nani sends in a cross from the right, which Markus Steinhöfer volleys against his own crossbar from eight yards out for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Lovely effort!
63 mins: Half an hour to go. United could do with replacing Park or Young with someone who might win a header at some point, from one of Nani's vicious crosses.
64 mins: Rooney cuts in from the right and shoots low, hard, and just the wrong side of the near post. Danny Welbeck comes on for Ashley Young. Glad to know you're an MBM reader, Mr Ferguson.
65 mins: Welbeck rolls the ball to Nani, central, who shoots over the bar from 20 yards. Napoli, meanwhile, has scored against Villarreal and as it stands both Manchester clubs are going out.
67 mins: Basel are pretty smart at winning free-kicks when no obvious contact has been made. Smalling is the latest victim of this sting.
69 mins: Shaqiri goes down, clutching his shoulder, nobody particularly near him. Either something very unlucky has happened, or he is shamelessly cheating in an attempt to win yet another free-kick. I know where my money is.
72 mins: Sommer comes out well to collect Giggs's cross. Twenty minutes to go, United still toiling. They're in very grave danger.
73 mins: Half-chance! Smalling crosses from the right, Rooney meets the ball six yards out but can't control his header. And he's offside.
75 mins: Smalling's cross goes straight out for a goal kick. As he crossed the ball, Basel had 10 players in their own penalty area. Moments earlier Welbeck had got the ball in the penalty area, and run all the way across it before giving up and shuffling the ball off to someone else. Very good pressing.
76 mins: Rooney works the ball onto his right foot, just over 20 yards out, and curls a shot goalwards. It bounces a couple of yards wide, but the keeper wouldn't have stopped it had it been on target. Which it wasn't.
77 mins: And Napoli are now 2-0 up in Spain, City apparently doomed.
78 mins: "If by 'Frank Lampard' you meant 'Wayne Rooney' and by 'fork' you meant 'Hernández', then you've succintly described Man Utd's strategy these days," writes Jijin John. "Let's hope someone can get a deflection off one of Basle's defenders."
79 mins: A little over 10 minutes to go and United are running short of ideas, and those they do have appear to involve Phil Jones playing a fairly central role.
81 mins: United's Plan B, or C, or whatever they're on to, is Federico Macheda.
82 mins: Xhaka attempts a 35-yard shot from standing. It floats harmlessly into outer space. And Park comes off, Macheda replacing him. Me, I'd have brought Valencia on for him 20 minutes ago and shifted Nani to the left. But then, I'm not a millionaire medal-laden knight of the realm, am I.
83 mins: Chaka Khan comes off, his tiredness proved by that shot a minute back, and Scott Chipperfield comes on.
84 mins: "This is what happens when your central midfield is composed of a 38-year-old winger, a famously workmanlike Korean winger, and a centre-half," rages Tom Bangay. "Playing no midfielders whatsoever was probably a MISTAKE."
GOAL! Basel 2 Manchester United 0!!!!!
84 mins: Basel's first decent effort since the ninth minute, a nice left-footed cross from the right wing by Shaqiri that bounces in the penalty area. Smalling doesn't know what to do about it, so does nothing at all (the correct answer would have been: just clear it you eejit). Frei, at the back stick, heads in from two yards.
88 mins: This is remarkable. Thinking back to those first five minutes, when it looked like United would win 152-0 with Basle only kicking the ball 152 times, all of those from kick-offs, this was just inconceivable. United have been so poor. A bit unlucky – Rooney's miss, Vidic's injury – but only Nani of their attack-minded players has played with any conviction at all.
GOAL! Basel 2 Manchester United 1! But only just!
89 mins: Welbeck's shot is excellently saved, but in a crowded penalty area the ball falls to Macheda, seven yards out. He produces one of the very best misses you've ever seen, thudding the ball into the crossbar when a goal appeared inevitable, but Jones heads the ball back goalwards and by the time the goalkeeper deals with it, it's about an inch over the line. They couldn't, could they?
90 mins: There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
90+1 mins: Valentin Stocker will replace Shaqiri for the last couple of minutes. United's goal really was very lucky indeed, bouncing between the legs of at least one defender on its way only-just-goalwards.
90+3 mins: Giggs punts the ball downfield, Welbeck flicks on, goalkeeper collects. There's one more play left in this game.
90+3 mins: Welbeck skins Abraham...
90+4 mins: But Abraham gets back and clears. United send the ball back in, but it's offside.
90+4 mins: Peeeeeep! It's all over! Manchester United are out of the Champions League, and Basel go through!
90+4 mins: Basel's players are going wild. Rooney has a bit of a "chat" with the referee, about what I don't know. He can only hope that he gets a better result in Switzerland tomorrow (when he appeals to Uefa over his three-match international ban).
Final thoughts: Ignominy. United were horribly poor here, and got what they deserved. In two games against Basel, both of them astonishing in their way, they were very lucky to get one point. There is no reason other than finances for them to claim superiority over tonight's opponents.
Basel were fortunate, of course, to score with their first shot, benefiting in doing so from a defensive injury and a goalkeeping error. But from there, they did little wrong. Their keeper looked particularly assured throughout, and was unlucky with United's goal – this was something of a contrast with his opposite number. United looked a limited team tonight, packed with mediocre performers, and suddenly their season is looking painfully close to over, even before the Christmas crackers are pulled. If City's league form continues, and if they win the FA Cup third-round derby, United will have nothing left to play for but the Europa League.The worst thing about it is that the three other teams in the group – with all due deference – were a load of old rubbish. Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati did not exactly constitute a group of death, but United have turned it into a prolonged period of self-strangulation. I can only imagine the ferocity of the hairdryer United's squad is experiencing right now.
More on this story
- Ferguson rejects United criticism
Champions League: Sir Alex Ferguson defended his younger players after Man Utd's humiliating exit
in Switzerland - Match report: FC Basel 2-1 Manchester United
- Kevin McCarra: defeat shows squad in transition
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Sunday, 4 December 2011
THE WORLD OF MARVELOUS FOOTBALL: All Blog PostsMy BlogAddMay Mahlangu's Swede taste...
THE WORLD OF MARVELOUS FOOTBALL: All Blog PostsMy BlogAddMay Mahlangu's Swede taste...: All Blog Posts My Blog Add May Mahlangu's Swede taste of success Posted by Ed Aarons on November 8, 2011 at 1:15pm View Bl...
May Mahlangu's Swede taste of success
The exploits of May Mahlangu in Sweden this week have got me thinking. Why do so many South Africans usually struggle when they go overseas?
The 22-year-old midfielder from the Mpumalanga province was the toast of the Allsvenskam after inspiring Helsingborgs to the league and cup double and picked up the Swedish Player of the Year Award on Monday night. Yet he was one of just a handful of the more than 20 eligible for Bafana Bafana selection who saw any action in Europe this past weekend.
Mahlangu's rise has gone under the radar for most observers after moving to Sweden nearly three years ago from the Stars of Africa academy in Johannesburg. But he has made a name for himself thousands of kilometres from home in a league that - although it may not be the most fashionable - will certainly attract the attention of bigger clubs.
It wasn't enough for him to be included in the latest Bafana Bafana squad to play Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe, even if Safa did cover their tracks by selecting him for the under 23 squad this week. Of the nine foreign-based players who did make Pitso Mosimane's squad, only Bevan Fransman, Anele Ngcongca, Daylon Claasen and Siboniso Gaxa have started more than 80 percent of their respective clubs' games this season in Israel and Belgium.
Again, neither league is rated among the elite and suggest that perhaps moving directly from the PSL to one of Europe's top leagues remains a bridge too far. Recent evidence in the cases of Bongani Khumalo and Thulani Serero seem to back this theory up given that both were outstanding performers in the domestic league before their high-profile switches to Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax Amsterdam respectively.
Khumalo spent his first two months in England training with superstars like Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale at the Spurs training ground before going on loan to struggling Preston North End. Injury curtailed a promising spell after the former SuperSport United captain looked like he had been finding his feet in the Championship and big things were expected of him when he joined Reading at the start of this season.
Yet he has failed to appear since the end of August, while Serero has seen his opportunities limited to cameos off the bench since moving to Holland in July. Injuries have not helped either player settle in but there's no doubt the transition has been very tough for both.
Before Khumalo's move, Kagisho Dikgacoi proved just how hard it can be to make the leap as he spent two
frustrating seasons with Fulham before moving to Crystal Palace. The midfielder now appears much more at home in south London but would be the first to admit the difficulties he has faced settling in.
Perhaps the examples of Mahlangu, Ngcongca and Lokeren's Ayanda Patosi - who all bypassed the PSL and
headed straight for Europe as teenagers - gives players the best opportunity to succeed where so many have failed?
The 22-year-old midfielder from the Mpumalanga province was the toast of the Allsvenskam after inspiring Helsingborgs to the league and cup double and picked up the Swedish Player of the Year Award on Monday night. Yet he was one of just a handful of the more than 20 eligible for Bafana Bafana selection who saw any action in Europe this past weekend.
Mahlangu's rise has gone under the radar for most observers after moving to Sweden nearly three years ago from the Stars of Africa academy in Johannesburg. But he has made a name for himself thousands of kilometres from home in a league that - although it may not be the most fashionable - will certainly attract the attention of bigger clubs.
It wasn't enough for him to be included in the latest Bafana Bafana squad to play Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe, even if Safa did cover their tracks by selecting him for the under 23 squad this week. Of the nine foreign-based players who did make Pitso Mosimane's squad, only Bevan Fransman, Anele Ngcongca, Daylon Claasen and Siboniso Gaxa have started more than 80 percent of their respective clubs' games this season in Israel and Belgium.
Again, neither league is rated among the elite and suggest that perhaps moving directly from the PSL to one of Europe's top leagues remains a bridge too far. Recent evidence in the cases of Bongani Khumalo and Thulani Serero seem to back this theory up given that both were outstanding performers in the domestic league before their high-profile switches to Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax Amsterdam respectively.
Khumalo spent his first two months in England training with superstars like Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale at the Spurs training ground before going on loan to struggling Preston North End. Injury curtailed a promising spell after the former SuperSport United captain looked like he had been finding his feet in the Championship and big things were expected of him when he joined Reading at the start of this season.
Yet he has failed to appear since the end of August, while Serero has seen his opportunities limited to cameos off the bench since moving to Holland in July. Injuries have not helped either player settle in but there's no doubt the transition has been very tough for both.
Before Khumalo's move, Kagisho Dikgacoi proved just how hard it can be to make the leap as he spent two
frustrating seasons with Fulham before moving to Crystal Palace. The midfielder now appears much more at home in south London but would be the first to admit the difficulties he has faced settling in.
Perhaps the examples of Mahlangu, Ngcongca and Lokeren's Ayanda Patosi - who all bypassed the PSL and
headed straight for Europe as teenagers - gives players the best opportunity to succeed where so many have failed?
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