Category Archives: SPORTS

MESUT OZIL says Arsenal will not fear Barcelona’s prolific front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the Champions League last 16.

Arsenal paid the price in the draw after they finished second to Bayern Munich in Group F.

The Gunners now face holders Barca for the third time in six years, having been knocked out by the Catalan giants on the previous two occasions.

Messi, Neymar and Suarez have scored 52 goals between them in all competitions this term, and Ozil is looking forward to the challenge of facing them in February and March.

“Barcelona are the hardest team in the world to play against,” Ozil told The Times. “Barcelona are the best team at the moment in the world. We know that.

“But as a player I look forward to encounters like this. For me it is important to have these big games, it’s nice to play against the best teams; to compete with them is a big opportunity for us.

“We respect Barcelona but they will respect us too. We are not afraid of Barcelona.

“We just need to play our game and we can beat them. There is no fear. In football everything’s possible.

“It is a tough match but I don’t think our defenders were afraid after the draw. It’s a big opportunity for them to prove themselves against the best attack in the world, players like Suarez, Messi, Neymar.

“It will be an exciting game, with the possibility of lots of goals, but it’s not like we are afraid.”

source:express.co.uk

The news that Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho is interested in playing in Australia has given the struggling A-League an unexpected fillip.

The 11-year-old competition is having to deal with a drop in general playing standards that has affected gates and television viewership.

One of the main reasons put forward for the league’s falling appeal is the conspicuous absence of genuine marquee players who have the ability to light up the competition.

Guys like Dwight Yorke, Juninho, Robbie Fowler, Shinji Ono, Emile Heskey and Alessandro Del Piero gave the A-League a massive profile when they chose to ply their trade in Australia.

But their departure created an instant vacuum that was hard to fill.

Enter Ronaldinho, a fantastic footballer who has won just about everything at club and national level.

The Brazilian striker, who became clubless after his contract with Fluminense expired in September, is said to be happy to field any offer to play in the A-League on a 14-match guest stint from as early as January.

Nothing gets the fans’ pulses racing more than the prospect of a genuine superstar playing among us.

And if somebody in Australia can pull off such a coup, the A-League’s reputation at home and abroad would make a giant leap forward in terms of quality, appeal and marketability.

Yet clubs alone cannot afford guys like Ronaldinho even though he would cost about $2 million all up (that’s much less than what Del Piero earned in Australia) to show off the incredible skills that made him the world’s finest and most entertaining footballer a decade ago.

However there are some disadvantages in engaging a big name on a guest player basis.

I am all in favour of clubs signing marquees on one-year or two-year contracts but guest stints do not do much for me. And I have valid reasons.

Such clear commercial ventures are seen as quick-fix gimmicks designed to put bums on seats and little consideration is usually given to the playing disruption such a star signing would cause to the team he joins.

Coaches would not be keen to see their work being undone by what could turn into a circus.

It is also doubtful if Ronaldinho, for example, is still good enough to deliver the goods he is famous for, or willing to show the commitment one usually is obliged to display when on a proper contract.

It has been said that Ronaldinho does not need normal training anymore because he operates a lot on his natural talent.

That would go down really well with Ronaldinho’s teammates, particularly the unfortunate one to make way for him.

There are many who believe that guest deals, as opposed to proper marquee contracts, affect the credibility of a competition.

It also is not a healthy sign that a competition has to rely on short-term guest stints to boost its appeal.

It is not suggested here that the idea of Ronaldinho playing in Australia should be knocked back outright.

As I said, Ronaldinho playing in the A-League would be an extraordinary coup, almost the stuff of fantasy football, particularly for a club like Melbourne City whose average gates are below the 10,000 mark.

Ronaldinho is an expression of joy on a football field and he has wooed the crowds wherever he has played. His CV lists Gremio, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro and Fluminense as his professional clubs. He would do the same in Australia, no doubt.

One can only imagine what level of interest Ronaldinho would create among the fans and the media, for example.

But any parties interested in acquiring Ronaldinho’s services would need to weigh the pros and the cons before going ahead.

It would boil down to a simple metric: the promotional gain associated with having Ronaldinho among us or the collateral pain his visit could inflict.

A no-brainer it certainly ain’t.

source:theworldgame.sbs.com.au

A goal from Lionel Messi and a double from Luis Suárez helped Barcelona to beat River Plate 3-0 in Yokohama and win the Club World Cup, the club’s fifth trophy of 2015.

Messi opened the scoring 10 minutes before the end of a difficult first half for Barcelona, who were tested by River’s intensity, but the European champions struck again early in the second period through Suárez and the Uruguayan sealed their third world title by heading home a cross from Neymar.

Barcelona become the first team to win the trophy three times, surpassing the two titles won by Corinthians, while Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique are now the only players to collect three winners’ medals.

This was the perfect way for Barça to end an excellent year in which they had already collected the league title, Champions League, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup, with the only trophy they failed to win being the Spanish Super Cup.

The River manager, Marcelo Gallardo, admitted his side would have to play “a perfect game on every level” if they were to win, adding “Barcelona have the best players, but we have huge hearts”.

The Argentinian club, who qualified for the tournament by winning the Copa Libertadores, brought 16,000 fans from Buenos Aires to Tokyo. On Saturday an estimated 10,000 supporters attended a mass rally in Yoyogi park, creating a carnival atmosphere in the city but when it came to Sunday’s game Barcelona made their quality show.

Neymar and Messi were back in the starting lineup after missing the semi-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande, the Brazilian recovering from a groin strain while the Argentinian had overcome abdominal pains.

Their returns allowed Luis Enrique to field the same team as in the Champions League final against Juventus, with the exception of Claudio Bravo starting in goal over Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Gallardo made only one change to the team who beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0, bringing in Tabare Viudez for Leonardo Pisculichi.

River’s tactics were to press Barça high up the pitch to disrupt their passing game and stifle creation. It worked for a large part of the first half, even if they had to resort to frequent tactical fouling.

In spite of the shackles imposed on them, Barça created a couple of openings. Messi took down a ball from Iniesta superbly to half-volley at Marcelo Barovero, and a tame shot from Alves following a Neymar cross from the left, which the goalkeeper also gathered. River’s few chances came from set pieces and distance shots from Rodrigo Mora and Lucas Alario, both which went straight at Bravo.

Messi also tried a free-kick which Barovero tipped around the post but it would not be long before the striker found a way through.

Jordi Alba won the ball back in River’s half and Barça broke quickly, Messi playing in Alves, who floated a ball into the area from the right and Neymar rose to head it down towards Messi, who controlled it before hooking a right-footed shot just beyond the reach of Barovero. The Barcelona substitutes raced out of the dugout to join Luis Enrique’s wild celebrations, such was the importance of the goal, but replays showed Messi may have controlled the ball with his right hand before shooting.

The goal sapped River’s confidence and Barça could have scored again before the break, Messi releasing Suárez with a curled pass from the right wing, but the Uruguayan fired the wrong side of the near post.

Gallardo made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Lucho González and Gonzalo Martínez for the booked Leonardo Ponzio and ineffective Mora. But the new players were on the pitch for only four minutes before Barça struck again. This time the high press was River’s undoing, as Busquets spotted a gap in the defensive line and Suárez ran into it, controlling and sliding the ball under the legs of Barovero.

Barça pushed for a third goal and, although Messi squandered a chance to add to his earlier effort, Suárez took his opportunity to do the same, glancing Neymar’s cross into the far corner. The Uruguayan took the prize for the tournament’s top scorer, his double adding to his hat-trick against Guangzhou.

source:google.com.au

Two goals from Odion Ighalo helped to give Watford an impressive 3-0 win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road on Sunday, their fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League triumph.

A mistake from Adam Bogdan, who was replacing the injured Simon Mignolet in Liverpool’s goal, allowed Nathan Ake to score the opener. Ighalo, who took his Barclays Premier League goals tally to 12 this season, netted shortly after with a neat finish before sealing the victory with a header five minutes from time.

The win puts Watford within a point of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth, while Liverpool remain ninth and have won only three of nine league matches since Jurgen Klopp took charge.

Liverpool made four alterations to their team as Bogdan, Roberto Firmino, Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho came in for injured Dejan Lovren, Mignolet and James Milner, while Christian Benteke dropped to the bench.

Watford, who were unchanged, made a dream start in the third minute. Bogdan dropped Ben Watson’s corner, allowing Ake to tap home from a yard as referee Mark Clattenburg ignored the goalkeeper’s claims that he had regained control before the defender struck.

Philippe Coutinho had a shot saved by Heurelho Gomes as Liverpool sought an equaliser, but it was the hosts who scored next, after 15 minutes.

Troy Deeney chipped a pass forward and Ighalo outmuscled Martin Skrtel to race on to the bouncing ball and divert an accurate finish in off the far post.

Bogdan almost made another mistake when a misunderstanding resulted in him punching the ball against Lucas, with Skrtel having to make a frantic clearance.

Liverpool’s first half got worse when Skrtel limped off injured as Divock Origi came on to replace him in a tactical switch from Klopp.

The Reds looked fired up after the break and Origi shot straight at Gomes, but it was almost game over when Jurado played a pass through to Ighalo and Sakho slipped to allow him through on goal. But Bogdan made the save.

At the other end, Jordan Henderson forced his way past Ake and struck powerfully towards goal, but Gomes made an important one-handed stop to preserve Watford’s two-goal advantage.

Emre Can had a long-range effort beaten away by Gomes, but there was to be no recovery for the visitors.

Ighalo sealed the victory with a firm header after a free-flowing counter-attack had led to substitute Valon Behrami’s cross from the right finding the striker as Liverpool’s disappointing run of form continued.

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores: “We have a lot of matches and we never underestimate the teams we play. We are completely happy with the performance. It was an amazing victory against an amazing team.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “We made many more wrong decisions today. Our reaction was really bad. With the wind and not the best pitch, we were playing in small spaces. We were playing the way they want and they closed us down. The start to the second half was very good, but we didn’t score, and then their third goal – game over.”

source:premierleague.com

Δεν είναι λίγοι, οι ειδήμονες του ποδοσφαίρου, που υποστηρίζουν πως η ψυχολογία έχει την ίδια επίδραση και αποτελεσματικότητα με την αγωνιστική φόρμα μίας ομάδας.

Ισχυρή απόδειξη αυτής της άποψης, αποτελεί η εντυπωσιακή Λέστερ του Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι, που μετά από 17 αγωνιστικές στην Premier League, παραμένει επικεφαλής και δείχνει ικανή για σπουδαία πράγματα, συνδυάζοντας απόδοση και ψυχολογία.

Τελευταίο «θύμα» των «αλεπούδων» είναι η Εβερτον που ηττήθηκε εντός έδρας με 3-2 από την πρωτοπόρο Λέστερ, την ώρα που η Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάϊτεντ γνώρισε «ήττα-σοκ» στο γήπεδο της με 2-1 από την Νόριτς.

Παράλληλα, η Τσέλσι επέστρεψε στις νίκες (σ.σ. 3-1 την Σάντερλαντ) μετά την απομάκρυνση του Ζοζέ Μουρίνιο και ο Γκούους Χίντινκ αναλαμβάνει τους Λονδρέζους με θετικό πρόσημο.

Τα αποτελέσματα, οι σκόρερ και η βαθμολογία, έχουν ως εξής:

Γουέστ Μπρομ-Μπόρνμουθ 1-2
(79` Μακ Ολεϊ – 52` Σμιθ, 88` πεν. Ντάνιελς)

Στόουκ Σίτι-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 1-2
(76` πεν. Κρκιτς – 45` πεν. Γουίκαμ, 89` Λι Γιονγκ)

Μάντσεστερ Γ.-Νόριτς 1-2
(66` Μαρσιάλ – 39` Ζερόμ, 54` Τετέϊ)

Εβερτον-Λέστερ 2-3
(32` Λουκάκου, 89` Μιραλάς – 28` πεν, 65` πεν. Μαχρέζ, 69` Οκαζάκι)

Τσέλσι-Σάντερλαντ 3-1
(5` Ιβάνοβιτς, 13` Πέδρο, 50` πεν. Οσκαρ – 53` Μπορίνι)

Σαουθάμπτον-Τότεναμ 0-2
(40` Κέιν, 43` Αλι)

Νιούκαστλ-Αστον Βίλα 19:30

Κυριακή:
Γουότφορντ-Λίβερπουλ
Σουόνσι-Γουέστ Χαμ

Δευτέρα:
Αρσεναλ-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 17 αγώνες)
Λέστερ 38
Άρσεναλ 33 -16αγ.
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 32 -16αγ.
Μάντσεστερ Γιουν. 29
Τότεναμ 29
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 29
Γουότφορντ 25 -16αγ.
Γουέστ Χαμ 24 -16αγ.
Λίβερπουλ 24 -16αγ.
Έβερτον 23
Στόουκ Σίτι 23
Σαουθάμπτον 21
Γουέστ Μπρομ 20
Μπόρνμουθ 19
Τσέλσι 18
Νόριτς 17
Νιουκάστλ 16 -16αγ.
Σουόνσι 14 -16αγ.
Σάντερλαντ 12
Άστον Βίλα 6 -16αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Thierry Henry believes Carlo Ancelotti is the perfect man to replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

The reigning Premier League champions sacked the Portuguese on Thursday and immediately there has been plenty of speculation of who will follow him into the Stamford Bridge hot-seat.

Arsenal legend Henry has nominated former Blues boss Ancelotti to return to West London but warned Chelsea to be cautious of their next appointment at such a precarious time for the club.

“I had Ancelotti as a coach when I was at Juventus, he was a great coach, a great man,” Henry said on Sky Sports News HQ.”When he’s been coach of a team, the players love him, he’s that type of boss.

“I thought it would have been a great fit, knowing what he has done for the club, the players usually like him. I don’t know where they’re going to go, but I thought Ancelotti could have been a great choice.

“You need to be careful, who’s available? Who’s going to want to come? Are you going short-term or long-term? Right now, you need someone to bring the fun back, the desire, the commitment that they were not bringing on the field.

“You need that happiness to win games, we all know Chelsea have some of the greatest players in this league but the commitment and desire wasn’t there.”You need that type of manager to lift the dressing room.”

source:.tribalfootball.com

José Mourinho’s “palpable discord” with Chelsea players forced the club to abruptly end his second spell as manager on Thursday with the team languishing just above the relegation zone only seven months after winning the Premier League.

“It was a decision taken to protect the interests of the club,” the Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said. “Whilst there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact of the matter remains that Chelsea Football Club is in trouble.

“The results are not good. There obviously seemed to be a palpable discord between manager and players. And we feel it was time to act. The owner is forced to make what was a very tough decision for the good of the club.

“This is essentially the same group of players who won the league and the League Cup last season. They did in style and they did it by showing commitment and by sweating tears and blood for the club when needed,” Emenalo said in a Chelsea website interview.

“The players have a responsibility to go out and prove everybody wrong and show a certain level of commitment … to try to get the club up the league table.”

Emenalo indicated that one of the “quality coaches embedded” at Chelsea would be in temporary charge for Saturday’s home match against Sunderland, with the club “working vigorously and actively” to appoint Mourinho’s successor.

source:theguardian.com,\

Ολοκληρώνεται το τριήμερο 15-17, το παζλ των ομάδων που θα δώσουν το «παρών» στη φάση των «16» του Κυπέλλου Ελλάδας.

Και νίκη και πρόκριση και πρώτη θέση στον όμιλο πέτυχε ο Ηρακλής μέσα στο Μενίδι. Ο «γηραιός» νίκησε 2-0 τον Αχαρναϊκό στην 3η και τελευταία αγωνιστική του 1ου ομίλου στο Κύπελλο Ελλάδας κι έτσι προκρίθηκε σε βάρος του αντιπάλου του, ενώ το 0-0 που έφερε ο ΠΑΣ στην Καρδίτσα, του έδωσε και την πρώτη θέση.

Το πρώτο γκολ σημείωσε στο 38′ ο Πασάς με σουτ πάνω στην κίνηση, μετά από σέντρα του Μπουκουβάλα. Στα τελευταία λεπτά οι γηπεδούχοι πίεσαν για να αντιστρέψουν την κατάσταση, αλλά χωρίς αποτέλεσμα. Και όχι μόνο αυτό, αλλά στις καθυστερήσεις του αγώνα (91′) δέχθηκαν και δεύτερο γκολ από τον Περόνε, που έφυγε μόνος μπροστά και πλάσαρε εύστοχα.

ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΗΣ: Κομίνης

ΚΙΤΡΙΝΕΣ: Ιωαννίδης, Κωστόπουλος – Στάμου

ΑΧΑΡΝΑΪΚΟΣ (Τίμος Καβακάς): Παγούδης, Σωτηράκος, Εμέκα, Μωυσιάδης, Μαρής, Κωστόπουλος, Ιωαννίδης, Ματσούκας (43′ Σιάνης), Καλογερόπουλος (80′ Αναστασίου), Ομπράντοβιτς (63′ Παπατόλιος), Παβίσεβιτς.

ΗΡΑΚΛΗΣ (Ν. Παπαδόπουλος): Περνίς, Μπαρτολίνι, Ζιαμπάρης, Μπουκουβάλας, Κυριακίδης, Ιντζόγλου (89′ Τσότρας), Στάμου, Περόνε, Ρομάνο (41′ Τσιλιανίδης), Μπουλούτ (63′ Ζαμπάζης), Πασάς.

Χ-άρηκε και ο ΠΑΣ στην Καρδίτσα

Χωρίς τέρματα έληξε η αναμέτρηση της Καρδίτσας ανάμεσα στην Αναγέννηση και τον ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα, για την 3η και τελευταία αγωνιστική του 1ου ομίλου στο Κύπελλο Ελλάδας.

Οι γηπεδούχοι ήταν αδιάφοροι, αφού έχουν ήδη αποκλειστεί, ωστόσο πήραν τον πρώτο (και τελευταίο) βαθμό, καθώς μέχρι τώρα είχαν δύο ήττες. Οι δύο ομάδες είχαν από ένα δοκάρι, η Αναγέννηση με σουτ του Δημόπουλου στο 9′ και ο ΠΑΣ με σουτ του Σαπαλίδη στο 13′.

ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΗΣ: Κύζας

ΚΙΤΡΙΝΕΣ: Τσίτας, Αργυρίου, Δημόπουλος – Μιχαήλ, Γαρουφαλιάς

ΑΝΑΓΕΝΝΗΣΗ ΚΑΡΔΙΤΣΑΣ (Σάκης Θεοδοσιάδης): Γεωργαντζάς, Αργυρίου, Δημόπουλος, Ρούσσης, Στάμος, Κοντός (71′ Υφαντής), Ακασσού, Σκαθαρούδης (84΄ Τσούκαλος), Τσίτας, Μοσχάκης, Πιτταράς (74′ Μαυρίας).

ΠΑΣ ΓΙΑΝΝΙΝΑ (Γιάννης Πετράκης): Περιστερίδης, Μιχαήλ, Φερφελής (59′ Γιάκος), Σκόνδρας, Τσουκαλάς, Σαπαλίδης, Ηλιάδης (53′ Λίλα), Γαρουφαλιάς (73′ Τζημόπουλος), Ναδάλες, Στρούνα, Καρανίκας.

Η συνέχεια…

Ήδη την πρόκριση για την επόμενη φάση της διοργάνωσης έχουν πάρει και οι Παναθηναϊκός, ΑΕΚ, ΠΑΟΚ, Πανιώνιος, Αστέρας Τρίπολης (από την Super League) και Λάρισα (από την Football League), ενώ εκτός συνέχειας έχουν μείνει -μέχρι στιγμής- δύο ομάδες της Super League και συγκεκριμένα Ξάνθη και Παναιτωλικός.

Ο κάτοχος του τίτλου, Ολυμπιακός, αντιμετωπίζει την Τετάρτη (19.30), τον Απόλλωνα Σμύρνης. Οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» προκρίνονται στην επόμενη φάση ακόμη και με τον βαθμό της ισοπαλίας.

Οι αναμετρήσεις της 3ης αγωνιστικής για τη φάση των ομίλων του Κυπέλλου Ελλάδος έχουν ως εξής:

Τρίτη 15 Δεκεμβρίου

1ος όμιλος
Αχαρναϊκός – Ηρακλής 0-2
Αναγέννηση Καρδίτσας – ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 0-0

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Ηρακλής 2-1-0 7-1 7
2. ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 1-2-0 3-2 5
3. Αχαρναϊκός 1-0-2 2-4 3
4. Αναγέννηση Καρδίτσας 0-1-2 0-5 1

Τετάρτη 16 Δεκεμβρίου

2ος όμιλος
15.00: Εργοτέλης – Πανιώνιος
15.00: Ζάκυνθος – Παναιτωλικός

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Πανιώνιος 2-0-0 3-1 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
2. Εργοτέλης 1-1-0 5-4 4
3. Ζάκυνθος 0-1-1 2-3 1
4. Παναιτωλικός 0-0-2 3-5 0

5ος όμιλος
19.30: Παναιγιάλειος – Πλατανιάς
19.30: Απόλλων Σμύρνης – Ολυμπιακός

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Ολυμπιακός 1-1-0 6-2 4
2. Πλατανιάς 1-1-0 5-3 4
3. Απόλλων Σμύρνης 1-0-1 4-4 3
4. Παναιγιάλειος 0-0-2 1-7 0

6ος όμιλος
17.15: Λαμία – Βέροια
17.15: Καλλιθέα – Ατρόμητος

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Βέροια 1-1-0 3-2 4
2. Ατρόμητος 1-1-0 4-2 4
3. Καλλιθέα 1-0-1 2-2 3
4. Λαμία 0-0-2 1-4 0

8ος όμιλος
17.15: Κισσαμικός – Καλλονή
17.15: Πανσερραϊκός – Αστέρας Τρίπολης

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Αστέρας Τρίπολης 2-0-0 7-1 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
2. Καλλονή 1-0-1 2-5 3
3. Κισσαμικός 0-1-1 1-3 1
4. Πανσερραϊκός 0-1-1 1-2 1

Πέμπτη 17 Δεκεμβρίου

3ος όμιλος
15.00: Χανιά – Πανθρακικός
15.00: Ολυμπιακός Βόλου – ΠΑΟΚ

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. ΠΑΟΚ 2-0-0 8-2 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
2. Πανθρακικός 1-0-1 1-2 3
3. Χανιά 1-0-1 4-7 3
4. Ολυμπιακός Βόλου 0-0-2 1-3 0

4ος όμιλος
17.00: Παναχαϊκή – Λεβαδειακός
17.00: Κέρκυρα – Παναθηναϊκός

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. Παναθηναϊκός 2-0-0 5-1 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
2. Λεβαδειακός 1-0-1 2-3 3
3. Παναχαϊκή 0-1-1 2-3 1
4. Κέρκυρα 0-1-1 1-3 1

7ος όμιλος
19.30: Λάρισα – ΑΕΚ
19.30: Πανελευσινιακός – Ξάνθη

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ
Ν-Ι-Η ΤΕΡΜ. ΒΑΘ.
1. ΑΕΚ 2-0-0 7-0 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
2. Λάρισα 2-0-0 5-1 6 -ΠΡΟΚΡΙΘΗΚΕ
———————————————
3. Πανελευσινιακός 0-0-2 1-10 0
4. Ξάνθη 0-0-2 0-2 0

Πηγή:in.gr

Leicester City’s dramatic rise to the top of the Premier League has taken the football world by storm.

And while queries have been levelled at the Foxes over whether they can maintain what is an incredible title charge, the stats suggest Claudio Ranieri’s thrilling outfit are here to stay.

A 2-1 victory over reigning champions Chelsea confirmed Leicester’s status as ‘the real deal’ this season, while the club’s form over the last eight months puts them well and truly among Europe’s elite.

In total, Leicester have won 17 of its last 25 league matches. Only Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have won more in that time across Europe’s big four leagues.

It’s also far more than fellow European heavyweights such as Juventus, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have managed.

Now all Leicester needs to do is maintain their run.

Had the season started back in April, the club’s record of 57 points from 25 matches would have been enough to put them on pace with the Premier League’s best over the last five years.

Of the last five domestic champions in England, only Manchester United’s 2012-13 team and Chelsea’s 2014-15 team had accrued more than 57 points after 25 games.

Furthermore, the average points total for English champions over the last decade is 2.3 per game. Over the last 25 matches, Leicester have gone at 2.28.

There’s no doubting Leicester are in illustrious company, but the comparisons with Europe’s best don’t end there.

The free-scoring Foxes are fourth in the big four leagues for goals this season, behind only Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Such has been the shock of Leicester rocketing to the top of the Premier League table nearing Christmas; it has become easy to forget just how dire the situation was a few months ago.

On 1 April 2015, the Foxes were dead last on the Premier League table with just eight matches remaining in the season. They were a game behind 19th-placed Burnley and four points from safety.

But so began a miraculous escape from danger. The club would win four straight games to exit the relegation zone and seven of their last nine matches in total.

Leicester ultimately finished 14th on the table, six points ahead of the relegated Hull City.

Then came another setback. Nigel Pearson was sacked as manager following a swift falling out with the club’s board and the local media, replaced by 64-year-old Claudio Ranieri.

While the criticism was that Ranieri was ‘past his best’ and ‘too old’ to succeed at the King Power Stadium, his results this season suggest he is anything but.

Challenges do remain. Leicester have just secured four points from clashes against Manchester United and Chelsea, but have Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham to play in the next three weeks.

However, if they can continue to string points together and produce another few months like the ones that have preceded it, anything is possible.

POINTS FROM LAST 25 LEAGUE MATCHES

Barcelona (61)

Bayern Munich (58)

Real Madrid (58)

Leicester City (57)

Borussia Dortmund (54)

Atletico Madrid (54)

Manchester City (53)

Juventus (47)

PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AFTER 25 MATCHES

2010-11: Manchester United (54)

2011-12: Manchester City (53)

2012-13: Manchester United (62)

2013-14: Manchester City (54)

2014-15: Chelsea (59)

Last 25: Leicester City (57)

source:foxsports.com.au

Arsenal will face holders Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.

Chelsea have been drawn against Paris St-Germain for the third consecutive season, while Manchester City face Dynamo Kiev.

Roma versus Real Madrid and Juventus, last year’s beaten finalists, against Bayern Munich are two of the standout matches in the draw.

First legs are scheduled to take place on 16-17 and 23-24 February. Return legs are on 8-9 and 15-16 March.

The winners of each group, including Chelsea and Manchester City, are at home in the second legs, while Arsenal will host their first leg.

Barcelona v Arsenal is a repeat of the 2006 final, which the Spanish champions won 2-1 thanks to two late goals in Paris.

PSG, who are 17 points clear at the top of the French league, knocked Chelsea out on away goals at this stage last season, while the Blues beat them on the same rule in the quarter-finals the previous year.

Dynamo Kiev beat Manchester City in the 2010-11 Europa League last 16, with striker Mario Balotelli sent off for the English side.

The first leg in Kiev will be played in a stadium without any supporters present, as Dynamo Kiev were punished following racist attacks on fans during a group game against Chelsea.

•Punishment is ‘farcical’ – Man City fanzine editor
The draw for the quarter-finals will be held on 18 March with the semi-final line-up drawn on 15 April.

Draw in full
Gent v Wolfsburg

Roma v Real Madrid

Paris St-Germain v Chelsea

Arsenal v Barcelona

Juventus v Bayern Munich

PSV Eindhoven v Atletico Madrid

Benfica v Zenit St Petersburg

Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City

source:bbc.com