La Liga - Ronaldo brace guides Real to easy win

Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties to lead Real Madrid to a 4-1 comeback victory over 10-man Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, keeping the Spanish leader five points clear despite Barcelona's 4-1 win at Malaga that featured a hat-trick from Lionel Messi. A youthful Bilbao went ahead through Fernando Llorente's 13th-minute opener in an electric start for the Basques at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, before Marcelo charged into the area to level for Real in the 25th. Ronaldo stroked home a pair of spot kicks in the second half and Jose Callejon added a late goal to secure the hosts a much-needed win following their midweek 2-1 home loss to Barcelona. That defeat led the disgruntled crowd to jeer Real coach Jose Mourinho throughout Sunday's...

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Messi scores three as Barca crush Malaga

Madrid: Lionel Messi scored a rare header in his hat-trick on Sunday to lead Barcelona to a 4-1 win at Malaga, keeping the pressure on Spanish leader Real Madrid ahead of their game against in-form Athletic Bilbao. Messi started the rout in the 33rd minute and then added two more after Alexis Sanchez had doubled the lead at the start of the second half. The Argentina forward now has a league-high 22 goals this season, one more than Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid will be trying to shake off their mid-week loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, with their fierce rivals trailing by two points in the standings. Barcelona will look to protect their 2-1 advantage over Madrid at Camp Nou on Wednesday in the second l...

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Valencia stars as Man United beat Arsenal 2-1

London: Manchester United's Antonio Valencia gave his best impression of Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday, scoring one goal and setting up another, to give his side a 2-1 win at Arsenal that keeps the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City. Rekindling memories of Ronaldo's seven stellar years with United, Ecuador winger Valencia headed United into the lead in first-half injury time and darted into the area with nine minutes left to present Danny Welbeck with the chance to smash a winner past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Robin van Persie's 71st-minute equalizer - his 19th league goal of the season - counted for little. The result kept the defending champions within three points of City and further threatened the Gunners' chances of...

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Balotelli gives Manchester City 3-2 win over Spurs

Manchester: Mario Balotelli settled Manchester City's thrilling five-goal encounter with title rivals Tottenham on Sunday and provided the moment of controversy by appearing to stamp on an opponent. Having thrown away a two-goal advantage, Premier League leaders City were being held 2-2 deep in stoppage time when Balotelli was tripped by Ledley King in the penalty area. Referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot and Balotelli clinched the 3-2 triumph, an 11th straight home win in the league that keeps City three points ahead of Manchester United. "I was calm, like every time I take a penalty," Balotelli said. But the volatile Italy striker isn't always so calm. Renowned for various misdemeanors on and off the pitch, Balotelli raised his jersey...

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Salgaocar outplay Churchill 3-0

Margao: Defending champions Salgaocar played with determination and zeal to outplay Churchill Brothers 3-0 in a 16th round I-League derby clash at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. Goals from Isfaq Ahmed (30th), Edeh Chidi (34th) and Ryuji Sueoka (84th) helped Salgaocar score their sixth consecutive win and move up the ladder with 28 points from 16 matches. Churchill Brothers remained on 29 points from 15 matches. Salgaocar started aggressively and penetrated into the rival goals with a series of moves. Salgaocar's midfield put up a solid performance with Man-of-the-Match Tomba Singh spearheading the attack. Ryuji Sueoka had the first chance to put his team ahead but his chip from an acute angle was put out of danger by rival keeper Felix...

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Wins for title contenders Milan, Udinese, Inter

Rome: AC Milan, Udinese and Inter Milan each won on Sunday to join Juventus in what is turning into a rare four-way race for the Serie A title at the Italian season's mid-point. Milan won 3-0 at last-placed Novara with two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and another from Robinho; Pablo Armero and Antonio Di Natale found the net to steer Udinese to a 2-1 victory over Catania; and Inter came from behind to beat Lazio 2-1 with goals from Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini for their seventh consecutive victory. Juventus, who beat Atalanta 2-0 on Saturday, hold a one-point lead over Milan and are three points in front of unsung Udinese, who have never finished higher than third. Inter, who were once 15 points back, now trail by six points after...

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Liverpool stunned by relegation-threatened Bolton 3-1

Bolton: Liverpool were surprised by the team with the worst home record in the English Premier League when they lost to Bolton Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday. Former Liverpool forward David Ngog had a hand in goals for Mark Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker that seemed to put Wanderers well in control. Craig Bellamy, a constant threat for Liverpool, halved the deficit in the 37th minute before becoming embroiled in an altercation with Reo-Coker as the teams went down the tunnel at half-time. Then a first goal of the season for defender Gretar Steinsson restored the two-goal cushion for Bolton, who rose four points above the relegation zone. Liverpool, who face a mid-week League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Manchester City, came no closer to...

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Misfiring Chelsea held to 0-0 draw by Norwich

Norwich: Chelsea's slim Premier League title hopes took another blow as their expensive strikeforce misfired in a 0-0 draw at Norwich City on Saturday. Spain internationals Fernando Torres and Juan Mata - who cost Chelsea a reported 76 million Pounds between them - squandered the best chances as the visitors failed to take advantage of their second-half dominance at Carrow Road. Chelsea stayed fourth in the standings, 10 points behind Manchester City ahead of the leaders' home match against third-placed Tottenham on Sunday. "The second half was all ours. We finished with 12 shots on goal and we couldn't find the back of the net again," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "It was a frustrating day. For a super-motivated Norwich, (the...

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Ex-SA footballer Ntuka stabbed to death

Johannesburg: South African footballer Jeffrey Ntuka was stabbed to death Saturday, a football website said. The stabbing took place in a nightclub in the 26-year-old Ntuka's hometown of Kroonstad in the Free State province, Xinhua reported. The report said the former Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United player - who is a product of English giants Chelsea - may have been stabbed after a brawl. Ntuka's representative group Stella Africa confirmed the news. "I just spoke to his wife for a couple of minutes and she confirmed that Ntuka has passed away after being stabbed in a township in Kroonstad," Stella Africa's Michael Hughes told the website. Ntuka had five Bafana caps and was a former regular South Africa under-23 player. He joined...

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Atletico sink Sociedad 4-0 in La Liga

Barcelona: Atletico Madrid's turnaround under new coach Diego Simeone was highlighted by a first away victory in the Spanish league with a 4-0 rout of Real Sociedad thanks to Radamel Falcao's hat trick on Saturday. Atletico, unbeaten in three games under Simeone, caught a lackluster Sociedad flatfooted in the opening moments of both halves to go up 2-0 as rain fell steadily on Anoeta Stadium. Falcao stroked home a spot kick to give the visitors the lead just three minutes in following Vadim Demidov's booking for a handball inside the area, and strike partner Adrian Lopez volleyed in his own rebound after Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo blocked his header in the 47th. Falcao then caught Bravo off his line with an exquisite chip shot from...

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Dempsey hat-trick leads Fulham win over Newcastle

London: Clint Dempsey became the first American to score a hat-trick in the English Premier League as he steered Fulham to an astonishing 5-2 comeback victory over Newcastle on Saturday. Dempsey completed the second hat-trick of his five-year career in English football in a 30-minute span in the second half, just two weeks after scoring the first - against Charlton in the FA Cup on January 7. Newcastle dominated the opening 45 minutes and a superb drive from around 25 yards from Danny Guthrie put the visitors deservedly 1-0 ahead at half-time. But Danny Murphy leveled from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute and Dempsey struck twice - his first being his 50th goal for Fulham - to leave the home side firmly in control. Bobby Zamora converted...

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Juventus win 2-0 at Atalanta - Totti sets record

Rome: Juventus won 2-0 at Atalanta to stay top at the Italian league's mid-point and Roma captain Francesco Totti sealed his place in the Serie A record books with two early goals in a 5-1 win over Cesena on Saturday. Juventus hit the woodwork twice but struggled to find the target until Stephan Lichsteiner crouched down to head in a perfect pass from Andrea Pirlo in the 55th minute. Second-half substitute Emanuele Giaccherini then doubled the lead in the 81st with a volley after slipping through Atalanta's offside trap. The victory moved Juventus four points clear of AC Milan, who visit last-placed Novara on Sunday. Earlier, with his 211th goal for Roma in Serie A, Totti broke 1950s AC Milan stand-out Gunnar Nordahl's previous mark of 210...

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Messi can never be as good as me - Pele

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil legend Pele has praised Barcelona star Lionel Messi, but noted that the Argentine still has a long way to go to be as successful as he was. The Argentina international became the second player in the history of the Ballon d'Or to win the prestigious award three times in a row when he lifted the title earlier this month in Zurich. Pele acknowledged that he is a fan of Messi, but stressed that the diminutive Argentine faces a hard task to equal him. "Technically speaking, we are practically at the same level," Pele told Le Monde. "We have both received a gift from God. "Records are made to be broken, but it will be hard to break mine. When Messi has scored 1,283 goals and won three World Cups, then we will talk. "People...

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No Welbeck contract dispute - Ferguson

Manchester: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed suggestions that Danny Welbeck is refusing to sign a new contract with the club. Welbeck was reported this week to be stalling on a new deal in a similar fashion to Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison, with the 21-year-old supposedly angling for a 60,000-pound-per-week deal. However Ferguson has moved to quash rumours that there is an issue with the striker who has scored eight goals in all competitions this season. "There is no issue," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We know the situation well with Danny. There is nothing to worry about there." The United boss also had encouraging words regarding the fitness of injured duo Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley. He said: "They are doing...

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Arsenal are still in the title race - Rooney

Manchester: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney does not believe Chelsea and Arsenal should be ruled out the title race just yet. The England striker, 26, believes the Gunners – who the Red Devils will face at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday – have vastly improved over the course of this campaign. Rooney credits manager Arsene Wenger for their rejuvenation and he believes results like the 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford are a thing of the past for the London club. "It wasn't just that one result. It was the way they started the season," he told the club's official website. "They didn't get the results they needed and a lot of stuff was said about them. But since then, they have gone on a great run and won a lot of games, as any team under...

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Ferdinand doubtful for Arsenal clash

Manchester: Rio Ferdinand is a major doubt for Manchester United's trip to Arsenal on Sunday after breaking down in training with a back injury, Goal.com has learned. The England defender suffered the injury on Thursday, missed training on Friday and is not expected to take part in the club's final session on Saturday ahead of the match. United's coaching staff do not want to take any chances with the 33-year-old, who has suffered with persistent back problems over the last 12 months. Sources have told that Ferdinand is considered "highly doubtful" for Sunday's mouth-watering Premier League showdown at the Emirates Stadium. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson does not want the defender, who has missed big chunks of the last three seasons through...

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Real Madrid wary of Bilbao after loss to Barcelona

Madrid: Spanish leaders Real Madrid will be wary of a surging Athletic Bilbao as they look to shake off another disappointing loss to Barcelona and focus on maintaining their five-point lead over the defending champions. Bilbao, who have won three straight and are unbeaten in seven matches, are fifth in the league and in the chase for a European place, maybe even a Champions League spot, under new coach Marcelo Bielsa going into Sunday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Marca newspaper reported on Friday that Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will leave Pepe out of the squad following the Portugal defender's performance in Wednesday's 2-1 Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona, when he stamped on Lionel Messi's hand. Pepe has been Madrid's most used...

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Drogba to leave Chelsea for Shanghai - Report

London: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is on his way out of Stamford Bridge in the summer to join Chinese Super League team Shanghai Shenhua, according to The Guardian. The striker's contract with the Blues expires at the end of the season, and it is thought the Ivorian is seeking a two-year extension, but the club is only willing to offer an additional 12 months, which Drogba has reportedly refused. Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka joined the Shanghai club at the end of last year on a two-year deal believed to be worth £200,000 a week, but a move for Drogba is expected to top that, with his three-and-a-half-year contract potentially reaching £270,000 per week. "Everything is going well so far, though there have been a few obstacles,"...

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Pepe denies he attempted to hurt Messi

Madrid: Real Madrid defender Pepe has released an official statement indicating that he did not attempt to injure Barcelona's Lionel Messi during his side's 2-1 defeat in the Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg clash on Wednesday. The Portugal international's performance has caused controversy after the former Porto man was spotted standing on the hand of the Ballon d'Or winner. However, the 28-year-old centre-back has confirmed through Madrid's official website that there was no malice intended in the incident. "With regard to the play involving Leo Messi, it was an involuntary act. But even still, if Messi is offended, I apologise as I was only intending on defending my team," Pepe said. "I give myself body and soul [in games] and it...

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Manchester United's De Gea set for eye surgery

Manchester: Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea may require laser eye surgery at the end of the season as he is long-sighted and wears contact lenses during games, according to the Guardian. The Spaniard, who United signed for a fee of around 18 million pounds in the summer, has worn glasses all of his life and was seemingly going to get the surgery done when he was still in Spain but the doctors there reportedly told him to wait because he needed a stable prescription. The 21-year-old has been replaced by Anders Lindegaard in the previous three matches and has come under criticism for various mistakes made during a difficult start to his United career. The Guardian reports he has had many a check-up with the on-site optometrist who...

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Manchester City set to cash in on De Jong

Manchester: Manchester City will sell midfielder Nigel de Jong in the summer transfer window if he fails to agree a new contract at the Etihad Stadium, according to numerous reports in the British press. De Jong reportedly rejected an offer of a new 100,000-pound-per-week deal at City last year, and has since found first-team opportunities limited this season due to the form of the likes of Yaya Toure, James Milner and Gareth Barry. While he will not be let go during the January window due to Toure's appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations and Owen Hargreaves' frequent injury and fitness problems, Roberto Mancini could cash in on the Dutchman with his current deal due to expire in 18 months' time. City have been more frugal with their owners'...

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Arsenal aim to dent Manchester United's title hopes

London: Arsenal's players could hardly ask for stronger motivation when they face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. The match at Emirates Stadium represents a chance for the Gunners to bounce back from consecutive defeats, boost their chances of getting back into the Champions League qualifying spots and dent their opponents' chances of retaining the title. There's also the matter of payback for August's 8-2 humiliation by United at Old Trafford. "It is a massive opportunity because you feel we have given six points away in the last two games in a way that is unbelievable," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It is time for us to wake up and be focused. We have a good opportunity to do that against Manchester United." But...

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Spirited Inter Milan aim to climb up the table

Rome: Inter Milan is full of optimism following an emotional derby win over AC Milan that is helping the club forget its dismal start to the season. With six consecutive victories, the Nerazzurri have climbed from 15 points behind to trail Serie A leader Juventus by six points approaching the season's midpoint. Inter remains at the San Siro this weekend to face fourth-place Lazio, the squad that is only one point above it in the table. "This is a squad that should be fighting for the title," Inter manager Claudio Ranieri said. "We've had an incredible run but we still haven't done anything. We've gotten back in the (Europa League) zone but we've got to get back in the Champions League places — because that's where Inter belongs. We're placing...

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Valencia thrash Levante in Copa first leg

Valencia: Unai Emery will be pleased with his Valencia players as they cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over their city rivals Levante at Mestalla, in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash. After Jonas opened the scoring midway through the first half, Roberto Soldado added a second with 31 minutes played. Levante soon pegged Valencia back with a terrific strike from Arouna Kone but Pablo Piatti's goal before the break killed off the tie, and Tino Costa added a fourth in injury time. Valencia assumed total control of possession from the off, pressing extremely high and with great intensity. To add to the visitors frustrations they continually switched the ball between the wings as they looked to create space for Soldado...

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Ancelotti keen on Tevez as PSG begin talks

Paris: Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, although the clubs have yet to reach an agreement. After missing out on signing David Beckham from the Los Angeles Galaxy and striker Alexandre Pato from AC Milan, big-spending PSG are still in the market for a star player. "Everyone knows we want a striker. Carlos Tevez is a great opportunity for us to have a great striker," Ancelotti said on Thursday. "As of today, nothing has been done. We need to speak to the player, with Manchester City. We hope to find a good solution." Ancelotti has not contacted Tevez or his advisers, saying only sporting director Leonardo is in a position to do so. "I've not spoken to him on the telephone, neither...

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Mourinho under pressure after 'woeful' Barca loss

Madrid: Another loss to Barcelona has piled pressure on Jose Mourinho, with support for the Real Madrid coach ebbing after another ill-tempered and ineffective display against their biggest rivals summed up by Pepe's ugly stamp on Lionel Messi's hand. Barcelona rallied for a 2-1 Copa del Rey victory on Wednesday for their 10th victory in 13 games, and sixth win against Madrid since the Portuguese coach took over in 2010. Mourinho's defensive tactics and use of centerback Pepe in midfield did little to stop Barcelona's attack, while his aggressive approach and lack of offensive inspiration drew jeers from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Even daily sports paper Marca, a staunch Madrid supporter, labeled Madrid's performance "woeful" and Pepe's...

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Sporting Clube stun Mohun Bagan in I-League

Margao: Sporting Clube de Goa took the wind out of Mohun Bagan with a facile 2-1 win in a 15th-round I-League encounter at the Nehru Stadium on Thursday. Keita Boubacar and Ogba Kalu scored for Sporting Clube while Rakesh Masih scored the lone goal for Mohun Bagan. Sporting Clube were in command in the first-half but could not translate their superiority into goals. The first scare for Mohun Bagan came in the fifth minute when Sudan striker James Moga took everyone by surprise with a long ranger that Bagan goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee somehow managed to parry away. Sangram again came to his side's rescue minutes later as he narrowed the angle and stopped Anthony D'Souza's fierce volley. There was no respite for Bagan and Sangram as Sporting...

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Prayag United beat Chirag Kerala 1-0

Kolkata: Riding on the solitary goal by Kayne Vincent, Prayag United defeated Chirag United Kerala 1-0 in the 15th-round I-League match, played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday. The win takes Prayag United to 25 points from 15 matches while Chirag United Kerala now have the pressure on them to move towards safety with only 10 rounds of matches left. Prayag started the match with their first-choice keeper Abhijeet Mondol, with Deepak Mondal manning the defence, which was never really stretched. Jayanta Sen played in Lalkamal Bhowmick's place in the centre of the field and Brazilian striker Joshimar Da Silva Martins started up front. Keeping the pressure on the visitors, Prayag forward Kayne, who was playing just behind Joshimar,...

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United Sport Club edge rivals United Kerala 1-0

Kolkata: United Sport Club scored a facile 1-0 win over bitter foes United Kerala in their grudge match in the 15th-round of the I-League at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Thursday. United SC's foreign recruit Kayne Vincent scored the winner in the 14th minute as the Kerala outfit struggled to come to terms with their opponents play. In what was termed as a mini derby, the match proved to be an insipid affair after the local challengers took the early lead. Having conceded an easy goal, United Kerala were forced to replace their goalkeeper K Sharath with an experienced Arindam Ghosh, who is recovering from an injury. But United SC had a defensive approach in the second-half as there was no addition to the tally. The Kerala outfit had a...

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