The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals
took place on Friday, and threw up some thrilling encounters. The
competition's surprise package, APOEL, were pitted against the might of
Real Madrid, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have a second opportunity to
get one over on Pep Guardiola and Barcelona. Bayern Munich's star man
Franck Ribery will have to face his former club Olympique de Marseille,
and Chelsea's comeback against Napoli was rewarded with a tie with
Benfica.
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Monday, March 19, 2012
Ferguson and Mancini join Wenger in hospital
Following Arsenal's valiant, yet
unsuccessful, efforts to defeat AC Milan against the odds in the
Champions League round of 16 last week and Chelsea's heroics against
Napoli on Wednesday, the onus was firmly placed upon both Manchester
clubs a day later to make similarly impressive comebacks, albeit in the
Europa League.
However, it was not to be as United were alarmingly outclassed by Athletic Bilbao, crumbling to a 5-3 aggregate defeat at the San Mames, while City did not fare much better despite beating Sporting Lisbon 3-2 on the night. Furthermore, both Fergie and Mancini will now be consigned to joining Arsene Wenger in commiserating their European exits, rather than Roberto Di Matteo, basking his glory.
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However, it was not to be as United were alarmingly outclassed by Athletic Bilbao, crumbling to a 5-3 aggregate defeat at the San Mames, while City did not fare much better despite beating Sporting Lisbon 3-2 on the night. Furthermore, both Fergie and Mancini will now be consigned to joining Arsene Wenger in commiserating their European exits, rather than Roberto Di Matteo, basking his glory.
Chelsea come back from the dead
Since taking over at Chelsea on an interim basis, Roberto Di Matteo has lead the Blues to a three-match winning streak, including a miraculous comeback victory against Napoli in the Champions League to make the quarter-finals of Europe's premier club competition.
The Italian coach's faith in the club's old guard seems to be paying dividends, as goalscorers Didier Drogba, skipper John Terry and Frank Lampard all showed they are not dead yet on Wednesday night, whilst Napoli star trio Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik appeared to let the occasion get to their heads.
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The Italian coach's faith in the club's old guard seems to be paying dividends, as goalscorers Didier Drogba, skipper John Terry and Frank Lampard all showed they are not dead yet on Wednesday night, whilst Napoli star trio Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik appeared to let the occasion get to their heads.
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Moratti clears out the old Inter garbage
Inter president Massimo Moratti may have dismissed suggestions that coach Claudio Ranieri will be sacked after the club's Champions League exit at the hands of Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday night, but the oil tycoon also conceded that he is considering overhauling his ageing, declining squad in the summer transfer market.
Senior players such as Maicon, Julio Cesar, Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder have cause for concern with the Nerazzurri also out of the Coppa Italia, and needing a miracle to qualify for next season's Champions League.
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Senior players such as Maicon, Julio Cesar, Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder have cause for concern with the Nerazzurri also out of the Coppa Italia, and needing a miracle to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Hasta la vista, baby
Thomas Vermaelen's stoppage-time winner helped Arsenal move to within a single point of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Vermaelen, affectionately
known as 'The Verminator', displayed the recent determination that has
flourished among the Gunners and Arsene Wenger was full of praise as his side came from behind to win in their fourth consecutive Premier League game.
They now also have a gap of three points over fifth-placed Chelsea and
look likely to grab a spot in next season's Champions League, despite
last week's elimination from the competition by AC Milan.
Monday, March 12, 2012
The Premier League pendulum
After
a truly monumental Sunday for the two title-chasers, it is now clear
that the Premier League pendulum has swung Sir Alex Ferguson's way.
Whilst his Manchester United team were swatting West Brom aside 2-0, Roberto Mancini was sweating in South Wales. A late Luke Moore goal was enough to give Swansea a well-deserved victory over Manchester City, which could have a huge bearing on where the league title will be heading come May.
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The Strange Case of Dr Pep and Mr Mourinho
In the build-up to this weekend's La Liga
action, Jose Mourinho voiced his opinion that he shared plenty of
similarities with his Barcelona counterpart, Pep Mourinho. However in
response, whilst admitting the pair are both hungry for victory, the Catalan trainer chose to distance himself from the Real Madrid coach's comments,
stating that he would have to "revise his behaviour" if Mourinho's
views were indeed, true. Is Pep turning into his own worst nightmare
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Sunday, March 11, 2012
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