Daily Archives: January 12, 2015

Η Μπαρτσελόνα βρίσκεται σε… κρίση, αλλά αυτό δεν την εμπόδισε να πάρει τη μεγάλη νίκη στο ντέρμπι της 18ης αγωνιστικής της πριμέρα ντιβιζιόν απέναντι στην Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης, με 3-1, στο «Καμπ Νου» και να «φωνάξει»… παρούσα στη μάχη του τίτλου.

Η κόντρα του Λιονέλ Μέσι με τον προπονητή του, Λουίς Ενρίκε, όχι μόνο δεν επηρέασε τον Αργεντινό σούπερ σταρ, αλλά τον… πείσμωσε και ήταν ο απόλυτος πρωταγωνιστής της αναμέτρησης.

Ο κορυφαίος παίκτης στον κόσμο με δύο προσωπικές ενέργειες στο 12΄ και 35΄ (σ.σ. στη δεύτερη πήρε τη μπάλα με το χέρι χωρίς να υποδειχθεί η παράβαση από το Μαγιένκο) έδωσε την ευκαιρία στους Νεϊμάρ και Σουάρες να σκοράρουν, ενώ ήταν αυτός που στο 86΄ «καθάρισε» το «τρίποντο» για την ομάδα του με το κοντινό πλασέ. Οι «ροχιμπλάνκος» είχαν μειώσει στο 57΄ με το πέναλτι του Μάντζουκιτς, παράβαση που είδε μόνο ο διαιτητής στο μαρκάρισμα του Μέσι πάνω στον Χεσούς Γκάμεθ.

Νέα νίκη για την εντυπωσιακή Σεβίλλη, η οποία επικράτησε στην έδρα της Αλμερία με 2-0, για την 18η αγωνιστική της Primera Division. Η ομάδα της Ανδαλουσίας πήρε τη νίκη με τα γκολ των Ντε Λα Φουέντε (58′) και Κόκε (63′).

Ισοπαλία στην έδρα της Γρανάδα απέσπασε η Ρεάλ Σοσιεδάδ, με σκορ 1-1, στο προτελευταίο σημερινό ματς της 18ης αγωνιστικής του ισπανικού πρωταθλήματος.

Η ομάδα του Ντέιβιντ Μόιες αποσπάστηκε ακόμη περισσότερο από τις επικίνδυνη ζώνη, σε αντίθεση με τους γηπεδούχους που μοιράζονται την τελευταία θέση με τις Κόρντομπα και Έλτσε.

Συνοπτικά τα αποτελέσματα και οι σκόρερ:

Λεβάντε-Λα Κορούνια 0-0

Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης-Εσπανιόλ 3-0
(12΄ Ροντρίγκες, 28΄ Μπέιλ, 76΄ Νάτσο)

Μάλαγα-Βιγιαρεάλ 1-1
(59΄ Αμραμπάτ – 45΄+ Τζόναθαν Ντος Σάντος)

Θέλτα-Βαλένθια 1-1
(61΄ Ορεγιάνα – 43΄ Ροντρίγκο)

Εϊμπάρ-Χετάφε 2-1
(33΄ Ντελ Μοράλ, 51΄ Κάπα – 80΄ Κάστρο)

Αλμερία-Σεβίλη 0-2
(58′ Ντε Λα Φουέντε, 63′ Κόκε)

Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο-Έλτσε 1-2
(73΄ Σαν Χοσέ – 17΄ Ροντρίγκες, 53΄ Φάιρ)

Γρανάδα-Σοσιεδάδ 1-1
(79΄πεν. Ρίκο – 36΄πεν. Βέλα)

Μπαρτσελόνα-Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης 3-1
(12΄ Νεϊμάρ, 35΄ Σουάρες, 86΄ Μέσι – 57΄πεν. Μάντζουκιτς)

Ράγιο Βαγεκάνο-Κόρντομπα 12/01

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 18 αγώνες)
Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης 42 -17αγ.
Μπαρτσελόνα 41
Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης 38
Σεβίλη 36 -17αγ.
Βαλένθια 35
Βιγιαρεάλ 32
Μάλαγα 31
Εϊμπάρ 26
Θέλτα 21
Εσπανιόλ 20
Ράγιο Βαγεκάνο 20 -17αγ.
Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο 19
Σοσιεδάδ 19
Χετάφε 17
Λα Κορούνια 17
Αλμερία 16
Λεβάντε 16
Ελτσε 14
Κόρντομπα 14 -17αγ.
Γρανάδα 14

Πηγή: in.gr

Luis Suárez, second right, celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s second goal against Atlético Madrid. Photograph: Alex Caparros/Getty Images

 The crisis may not yet be over in Catalonia but it was contained here. Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid for the first time in over a year, with a goal each for Neymar, Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi, who has stood silently in the middle of the storm during the last seven days.

They have been waiting for him to calm their nerves and on the pitch he did. Messi gave away the penalty that put victory in doubt but then scored the third that ended this game. The fans had started the night chanting his name and they ended it that way too.

Tata Martino, the former Barcelona manager, used to call it the “weekly crisis” and after this victory there might be a temptation to borrow that line to describe this week in football and dressing-room politics. That would be a mistake but, if the president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, claimed that he had called elections to “lessen the tension”, the players did their part here, Messi especially. A week after the edifice broke, the rebuilding began and began early.

Luis Enrique said the result would “without doubt” reduce the tension surrounding the club. “Victories are the only thing that can calm this wave [of noise],” he said. “As soon as we make mistakes, the crisis will be back. That’s very clear. I will concentrate on what I can control.”

Barcelona had the lead after 11 minutes. Coming in from the right, Messi combined with Dani Alves and raced into the area, turning the ball inside towards Suárez on the edge of the six-yard box. Suárez could not control the ball but it came off his thigh and ran on to Neymar to slide it in at the far post. It may not have been the way they dreamed the Messi-Suárez-Neymar trio working but it hardly mattered: Barcelona had the lead and at least the link was working. Largely this season it has not.

Besides, better combinations followed and many of them. There was a pace and incision about Barcelona that was apparent almost from the start. Eleven minutes later the combination was almost perfect. Messi played the ball up the right for Suárez who turned swiftly inside José María Giménez, sprinted towards the area and then clipped up a wonderful ball to the far post for Neymar, only for the Brazilian’s header to bounce wide.

Suárez leapt in frustration: he had miscontrolled for Neymar’s first goal and a minute after that he had been unable to finish as he raced to reach a ball that momentarily slipped from the grasp of Miguel Ángel Moyà. With only one league goal this season and the sense that he is yet to find his place within this team, the pressure has been on Suárez. But then he got the second.

As the ball was swung right, Messi reacted quickly, controlling on his chest, or perhaps his upper arm, and bombing up the right, legs whirring. He cut inside and laid the ball into the path of Suárez for him to score. Luis Enrique punched the air and Messi turned to supporters and gestured for the noise level to rise. Which it did, of course. There was something cathartic about this.

There were complaints from Atlético and replays suggested there was some justification in them but there was also something familiar about the genesis of the goal. Messi had spent much of the half on the right; that may not be a long-term solution and surely he will end up closer to the false No9 position from which he became the world’s best player, but here it worked. He spent much of the half running at Jesús Gámez and the right-back, employed on the left for the first time, could do little to stop him.

Messi was hyperactive, as Barcelona were too, and the first half here may have been their best of the season. They were quick, dynamic and determined. Miguel Ángel Moyà had blocked one Messi shot at the near post, another faded wide and his header near the end of the half missed the target too. There were clashes too – Messi seemed to seek out one of them by way of retribution – and momentarily the game looked set to get nasty, reflecting in part Atlético’s inability to gain a foothold.

But then, suddenly, they did, 10 minutes into the second half. Again Messi and Gámez were involved but this time it was Atlético who benefited when, to the bafflement of Barcelona, Messi was judged to have clipped his ankle in the penalty area. Mario Mandzukic smashed in the penalty.

On came Fernando Torres who has scored eight times against Barcelona. There were nerves now. Mandzukic tried to release Torres racing into space but his pass did not make it. Arda Turan produced a wonderful piece of skill to flick the ball through Gerard Piqué’s legs. Torres’s cross was pushed away by Claudio Bravo and Raul García, also on as a sub, clipped his shot harmlessly into the keeper’s hands when hitting it hard might have been a better option.

Atlético were pressing but Barcelona broke. Suárez advanced on the left and struck a long ball across the field for Messi. He brought it down and laid it off to Ivan Rakitic, running beyond him. Although Messi could not reach the pull-back, the ball rebounded back to him to sidefoot in the third. “Messi! Messi! Messi!” the Camp Nou chanted.

source: theguardian.com

Australia’s captain Mile Jedinak reaches for his injured ankle. Source: AFP

SOCCEROOS captain Mile Jedinak will miss Australia’s second Asian Cup clash with Oman on Tuesday night after failing to shrug off the ankle injury suffered in the 4-1 win over Kuwait on Friday night.

Jedinak landed awkwardly after jumping to head clear a corner in the first half, and though he played on – and scored his side’s third goal from the penalty spot – he has had his ankle in a moon boot since.

With the third game against South Korea likely to prove pivotal to Australia’s final standing in the group, coach Ange Postecoglou this morning took the decision not to risk Jedinak against Oman.

Though Jedinak’s influence on the side is immense, further damage to the ankle could put his participation in the rest of the tournament in question.

“We’ve decided to rule Mile out of the Oman game after he copped an ankle injury against Kuwait,” said Postecoglou. “He’s not quite right to play and at this stage of the tournament we are better to give it a few days’ extra rest and we will reassess where he’s at for the game against Korea.

“While it is not ideal for Mile to miss the game I’m confident we have the players and depth to be able to cover for not having him out there.

“We worked hard on increasing our depth over the last six months leading into the Asian Cup and that has us in a good position to be able to cover for the loss of a player of Mile’s calibre.”

Melbourne Victory captain Mark Milligan is the most likely replacement for Jedinak, though Sydney FC’s Terry Antonis is also an option.

source: dailytelegraph.com.au

Alexis Sanchez was again Arsenal’s inspiration as they coasted to a 3-0 win over Stoke City on Sunday.

The irrepressible Sanchez scored his 11th and 12th Barclays Premier League goals of the season either side of half-time after setting up Laurent Koscielny’s early opener at Emirates Stadium.

David Ospina was handed a first top-flight start in Arsenal’s goal in place of Wojciech Szczesny,.but Stoke were rarely able to get near the Colombian, let alone test him, in a game that was dominated throughout by the hosts.

It was a completely different story for Ospina’s opposite number Asmir Begovic, to whom Stoke were grateful for keeping the score down as they slipped to defeat at the Gunners for a seventh successive season.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes gave a debut to Philipp Wollscheid in defence and was able to call on Bojan Krkic after the Spaniard’s hamstring injury, but it was another ex-Barcelona man who stole the headlines, as Sanchez lit up yet another Barclays Premier League encounter.

On a day full of positives for Wenger, Mesut Ozil made his long-awaited return from injury as a late replacement for Olivier Giroud. However, Mathieu Debuchy’s enforced early withdrawal with a serious-looking shoulder problem may temper the Frenchman’s joy.

Stoke were served warning of Arsenal’s attacking intent before Koscielny broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, with Sanchez and Tomas Rosicky both forcing Begovic into fine saves.

And it was from the corner subsequent to the Czech’s effort, which Begovic tipped wide, that the hosts made their pressure pay. Sanchez’s initial effort was cleared, but his second was an inch-perfect cross, which an unmarked Koscielny glanced past Begovic from eight yards.

There was no let-up on the siege on Begovic’s goal after the opener, with the Bosnia-Herzegovina international again called into action to deny Giroud.

But there was nothing Begovic could do to stop the outstanding Sanchez shortly after the half-hour mark. In a goal reminiscent of the onlooking Thierry Henry, Sanchez dipped in from the left wing and played a slick one-two with Rosicky before firing past Begovic at his near post.

And Sanchez picked up where he left off in the second half, adding his second soon after the restart. For once, Begovic could have done better as he allowed the 26-year-old’s low free-kick to squirm beyond him into the bottom corner.

Sanchez was clearly in the mood for his first Arsenal hat-trick, and went close to completing his treble with an audacious 40-yard lob that had Begovic scrambling.

Geoff Cameron saw a scrappy effort disallowed for offside and Ospina got down smartly to deny substitute Stephen Ireland and preserve a clean sheet. But that was as good as it got for Hughes’ men, as they slumped to another Emirates reverse.

Arsenal, meanwhile, move above arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur into fifth, closing the gap on fourth-placed Southampton in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We moved well without the ball and moved the ball well, which is the basis of our game. Overall, we created chances, were mobile and the speed of our game created problems for Stoke. We took advantage of that.

“Football is a game where you have to be realistic as well because we have to stop conceding goals and that’s why today hopefully will improve our defenders’ confidence. We have another big game next week [against Manchester City] and we want to combine being dangerous going forward and being tight at the back. The defenders came in very happy today because they didn’t concede a goal. Our last away game at Southampton, we were not at the level.

“When you play at home you can move the ball well when you have so many technical players on the pitch. It is an advantage for us. What was important for me is that we kept a good concentration to play the game how we want to play and also that we kept a clean sheet at the back.

“Overall, I must say that everybody played very well. The only negative today is that we lost another experienced defender with a dislocated shoulder [Debuchy]. That gives us a problem because we are already short of experienced players at the back.”

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: “We were second best today to a good Arsenal side that has the benefit of a good start. We never had a period in the game when we could dictate and they were really comfortable, which was a disappointment.

“When you see the power [Sanchez has] got and the pace, he’s an outstanding player. I find South American players have passion and drive. He’s a world star, but he’s put a shift in for the team.”

source: premierleague.com

Substitute Dusan Tadic’s second-half goal earned Southampton a rare and memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Despite the hosts enjoying the majority of possession, and goalscoring chances, in Sunday’s encounter, Tadic netted 69 minutes in as United lost at home in the Barclays Premier League for the first time since the opening day.

The former Twente man calmly side-footed home from inside the area as Ronald Koeman’s men leapfrogged United into third.

Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria had threatened in a first half of few chances, but the home side lacked the cutting edge to take maximum points.

The Red Devils again flattered to deceive in spells after the break, with Tadic on hand to make them pay for their profligacy, reacting well to slot the winner after Graziano Pelle’s effort had rebounded off the post.

Koeman saw his side avenge their 2-1 defeat when the teams met at St Mary’s Stadium last month, with an injury that forced the withdrawal of Toby Alderweireld the only low point for the south-coast club, while Van Gaal has work to do to rediscover his side’s finishing touch if they are to regain third place.

Nathaniel Clyne – back in Southampton’s starting XI for the first time since Boxing Day – went close inside two minutes as he dragged a shot wide before Di Maria’s inviting cross failed to elicit a touch from any United team-mates.

Like Clyne, Alderweireld was also returning for the visitors, having not featured in the FA Cup draw with Ipswich Town, but the Belgian was forced off injured inside 20 minutes and replaced by Florin Gardos.

While the opening half hour was largely devoid of clear-cut chances, United ended the first period on top.

Van Persie played in Di Maria with a clever looped ball, but the former Real Madrid man miscontrolled, before the Dutchman saw an effort inside the area collected by Fraser Forster following a deflection off Gardos.

A tame, wayward effort from Di Maria, starting for United for the first time since November following injury troubles, proved the final chance of a low-key half in which neither side mustered an attempt on target.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with United labouring up front against a resolute Southampton back line. With Radamel Falcao absent from the squad, the likes of Di Maria, Van Persie and Wayne Rooney struggled.

Chances continued to be at a premium for both sides, but crucially Southampton took theirs with the help of some calm finishing from Tadic before Juan Mata failed to make the most of two clear opportunities.

Attacking midfielder Tadic’s goal, which followed up his effort in the 2-0 victory over Arsenal on New Year’s Day, proved the difference as Southampton moved into third, two points clear of United, who have now won just one of their last five league matches.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: “We didn’t create so many chances, despite dominating the game. We gave them a chance in the first minute but dominated after that. We had three big chances, but it was not enough. Southampton were well organised, defended well but they came for a draw, I believe, and they go away with a win, which is disappointing. “[Juan] Mata had three chances, but you cannot change the result. We gave the goal away. Football is game from mistakes.”

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: “We defended well and the spirit was unbelievable from the players, [we were] a little bit lucky but remember the [reverse] game, Man Utd was the lucky one. Maybe we are [lucky] but if you finally win you deserve to win because I think it’s a compliment to the players how they play.

“I said before we could make it very difficult for them and we did. We know we have a strong team and that was important at the end of December. We got a point off Chelsea, the three points against Arsenal, it makes for good belief among the players. That’s always what you need if you are not a big club and you have to play a big one. We are not afraid of the name, or the stadium. I think we learned that in the last few weeks.”

source: premierleague.com

Ένα γκολ του Ντούσαν Τάντιτς έφερε τα πάνω κάτω στο “Ολντ Τράφορντ” κι έδωσε στη Σαουθάμπτον τη νίκη επί της Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ και την 3η θέση της Premier League μετά από 21 αγωνιστικές. Δύο γκολ και μία ασίστ ο Αλέξις Σάντσες στη νίκη της Άρσεναλ επί της Στόουκ.

Από το 2003 έψαχνε νίκη επί της Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ, αλλά η φετινή Σαουθάμπτον που είναι ικανή για τα πάντα, κατάφερε να σπάσει ακόμα μία παράδοση και να επικρατήσει 1-0 μέσα στο “Ολντ Τράφορντ”, προσπερνώντας τους “κόκκινους διαβόλους” στην 3η θέση του βαθμολογικού πίνακα. Το 3-5-2 του Λουίς φαν Χάαλ δεν έφερε αποτελέσματα στους γηπεδούχους, που πάσχιζαν να βρουν μία καλή εμφάνιση, παρότι διατηρούσαν αήττητο από το ντέρμπι του Μάντσεστερ στις αρχές Νοεμβρίου.

Δύο σουτ, ελάχιστοι κίνδυνοι και η δράση μεταφέρθηκε στο 2ο μέρος, όπου οι “Άγιοι” εξακολουθούσαν να αισθάνονται… ασφάλεια από τον τρόπο λειτουργίας της Γιουνάιτεντ. Ο Φαν Χάαλ που είχε νικήσει μέσα στο “Σεντ Μέρις” πριν από μερικές εβδομάδες τον εχθρό του, Ρόναλντ Κούμαν, έριξε στο παιχνίδι τον Τάιλερ Μπλάκετ και τον Άντερ Ερέρα και άλλαξε τον σχηματισμό των γηπεδούχων. Ο Κούμαν, από την πλευρά του, έριξε στο παιχνίδι τον Ντούσαν Τάντιτς και δικαιώθηκε μέσα σε 5 λεπτά, όταν ο Σέρβος μέσος πήρε το ριμπάουντ σε δοκάρι του Γκρατσιάνο Πελέ και σημείωσε το μοναδικό τέρμα του αγώνα. Η Γιουνάιτεντ ολοκλήρωσε το παιχνίδι χωρίς σουτ στην αντίπαλη εστία (7 άουτ, ένα μπλοκαρίστηκε) και η πρώτη ήττα για το 2015 είναι γεγονός.

Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ (3-5-2): Ντε Χέα, Τζόουνς, Σμόλινγκ, Μπλιντ, Βαλένσια, Μάτα, Κάρικ, Ρούνεϊ, Σο (64′ Μπλάκετ), Φαν Πέρσι (61′ Ερέρα), Ντι Μαρία (72′ Φελαϊνί)

Σαουθάμπτον (4-3-3): Φόρστερ, Κλάιν, Φόντε, Άλντεβαϊρελντ (21′ Γκάρντος), Μπέρτραντ, Ντέιβις (80′ Ριντ), Γουανιάμα, Σνεντερλέν, Γουόρντ Πρόουζ, Πελέ, Ελία (63′ Τάντιτς)

 

Το σόου του Αλέξις Σάντσες με τη φανέλα της Άρσεναλ συνεχίζεται και με δύο γκολ και μία ασίστ, ο Χιλιανός επιθετικός οδήγησε τους “κανονιέρηδες” σε άνετη επικράτηση με 3-0 επί της Στόουκ στο “Έμιρεϊτς”. Μόλις στο 6ο λεπτό, ο ηγέτης της φετινής ομάδας του Αρσέν Βενγκέρ μοίρασε την 7η ασίστ του στο πρωτάθλημα, με τον Λοράν Κοσιελνί να ανοίγει το σκορ με δυνατή κεφαλιά. Οι φιλοξενούμενοι επιχειρούσαν με σέντρες να απειλήσουν την εστία του Ντάβιντ Οσπίνα, αλλά απέτυχαν παταγωδώς και μία ατομική ενέργεια του Σάντσες στο 33′ έφερε το 2-0.

Το μομέντουμ ήταν εμφανώς με τους γηπεδούχους και στο 49′ ο Σάντσες εκτέλεσε φάουλ κάνοντας το 3-0 με το 18ο φετινό τέρμα του και 12ο στο πρωτάθλημα. Η νίκη είχε βρει κάτοχο με τους Τιερί Ανρί και Ρομπέρ Πιρές να παρακολουθούν από την εξέδρα και ο Αλσατός τεχνικός είχε την ευκαιρία να δώσει λεπτά συμμετοχής σε δύο παίκτες που προέρχονται από τραυματισμό, τους Μεσούτ Εζίλ (επιστροφή μετά από τον Οκτώβριο) και Θίο Γουόλκοτ.

Άρσεναλ (4-2-3-1): Οσπίνα, Ντεμπισί (13′ Μπεγερίν), Μέρτεζακερ, Κοσιελνί, Μονρεάλ, Ροσίτσκι, Κοκλέν, Όξλεϊντ Τσάμπερλεϊν (68′ Γουόλκοτ), Καθόρλα, Σάντσες, Ζιρού (73′ Εζίλ)

Στόουκ (4-2-3-1): Μπέγκοβιτς, Κάμερον, Σόκρος, Βόλσαϊντ, Πίτερς (46′ Μουνιέσα), Ενζονζί (46΄Σίντγουελ), Γουίλαν, Γουόλτερς, Κρκιτς (73′ Άιρλαντ), Αρναούτοβιτς, Κράουτς

Τα αποτελέσματα της 21ης αγωνιστικής

Σάββατο 10 Ιανουαρίου 2015

14:45 Σάντερλαντ – Λίβερπουλ 0-1

(9′ Μάρκοβιτς)

17:00 Μπέρνλι – ΚΠΡ 2-1

(12′ Άρφιλντ, 37′ Ινγκς – 33′ πέν. Όστιν)

17:00 Τσέλσι – Νιούκαστλ 2-0

(43′ Οσκάρ, 59′ Κόστα)

17:00 Έβερτον – Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 1-1

(78′ Νέισμιθ – 74′ Φερναντίνιο)

17:00 Λέστερ – Άστον Βίλα 1-0

(45+1′ Κοντσέσκι)

17:00 Σουόνσι – Γουέστ Χαμ 1-1

(74′ αυτ. Νόουμπλ – 43′ Κάρολ)

17:00 Γουέστ Μπρομ – Χαλ 1-0

(78′ Μπεραχίνο)

19:30 Κρίσταλ Πάλας – Τότεναμ 2-1

(69′ πέν. Γκέιλ, 80′ Πάντσεον – 49′ Κέιν)

Κυριακή 11 Ιανουαρίου 2015

15:30 Άρσεναλ – Στόουκ 3-0

(33′, 49′ Σάντσες, 6′ Κοσιελνί)

18:00 Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ – Σαουθάμπτον 0-1

(69′ Τάντιτς)

Πηγή: in.gr