Last 16 hopefuls eye Champions League glory

 

The Champions League round-of-16 stage commences on Tuesday as Europe's elite attempt to forge a path to the final at Wembley.

The standout tie this week sees Cristiano Ronaldo come up against his former club for the first time as Real Madrid host Manchester United on Wednesday evening.

Elsewhere, Serie A champions Juventus are in action against Celtic, Valencia play Paris Saint-Germain, while two sides who impressed in the group stage, Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund, square off at the Donbass Arena on Wednesday. 
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Super Eagles soar after Afcon victory

 

Nigeria were crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions on Sunday.

Sunday Mba scored a stunning goal to clinch a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles over Burkina Faso.

Chelsea star Victor Moses was named player of the tournament and Jon Obi Mikel was declared man of the match as Nigeria claimed their first Africa Cup of Nations since 1994. 
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Manchester City run out of puff in title charge

 

What looked like being a two-horse race is apparently down to just one after a limp Manchester City were beaten 3-1 by Southampton on Saturday evening.

Roberto Mancini's men were outclassed at St Mary's Stadium and, if they beat Everton on Sunday, rivals Manchester United could go 12 points clear in the race for the Premier League trophy.

A miraculous repeat of last year's title success looks further and further away for City as their weakened team runs out of puff... 
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Sir Alex tongue-tied by FA after fine

 

Sir Alex Ferguson had his wrists slapped by the FA on Friday, receiving a £12,000 fine for comments made about match officials.

The Manchester United manager implied referee's assistant Simon Beck had been motivated by bias in his failure to award the Premier League leaders a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham.

The Old Trafford boss might be advised to hold his tongue before making such comments in the future, though why change the habit of a lifetime at 71? 

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My cartoon on France Football

 

France Football published my Goal.com cartoon "Newcastle's French revolution goes a step too far", which was talking on Newcastle winter's transfer which was on five French players.

Am so proud to see my cartoon in a very prestigious magazine.

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Carragher heads for Anfield exit

 

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher announced his decision to retire from football at the end of the season on Thursday.

After a career as a strictly one-club man in which the 35-year-old has made well over 700 appearances for the Anfield side and won plenty of silverware, including the Champions League.

There is no doubt the Kop will salute Carragher as he heads for the Anfield exit door in May. 
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England's Wembley win spoils Ronaldinho's parade

 

It was set up perfectly for Ronaldinho. In his unofficial 100th game for Brazil (he has made five appearances in games not recognised by Fifa), he was handed a chance from the penalty spot to get his name on the score-sheet at Wembley. A penalty against England? Well that's as good as a goal isn't it?

WRONG! Joe Hart superbly denied the buck-toothed magician with not one, but two, fine stops to prevent the 32-year-old marking his return to the Selecao (he hasn't played for them since November 2011) with a goal.

It got worse too. Luis Felipe Scolari replaced him at half-time and England went on to win the friendly with goals from Wayne Rooney and the evergreen Frank Lampard - perfectly marking the Football Association's first glamour friendly in their 150th anniversary. 
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Ashley Cole joins England's 100 Club

 

Ashley Cole may not have always been the most popular figure outside of Stamford Bridge, but the left-back will join an elite group of England players on Wednesday.

The defender will join England's 100 Club at Wembley Stadium against Brazil, joining such decorated stars as Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore.

Somewhat controversial off the pitch but rarely anything other than reliable on it, England might actually allow itself to celebrate Cole on Wednesday evening. 
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Happy birthday Cristiano Ronaldo!

 

He may have been pipped to the Ballon d'Or once again by Lionel Messi, but it's been quite a year for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Real Madrid star turns 28 on Tuesday on the back of 12 months which have seen him claim his first La Liga crown in the Spanish capital as well as a host of individual honours.

February 5 is an illustrious occasion indeed for footballers' birthdays, as Carlos Tevez and Neymar also celebrate turning 29 and 21 respectively.

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Manchester United have one hand on the title after City's latest surrender

 

Sergio Aguero's spectacular equaliser salvaged a point for the champions, yet after Sir Alex Ferguson's men downed Fulham 1-0 just 24 hours earlier, it was again a case of two points lost.

The Red Devils now sit nine points clear at the top of the table, and even the most optimistic of fans would agree City have already surrendered in the title race...

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