City take the spoils but title still in United's reach

 

Sergio Aguero's fine solo strike may well have tipped the Manchester derby in City's favour on Monday evening, but United still boast a 12-point gap over Roberto Mancini's side at the top of the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side need 10 more points from their remaining seven games in order to secure the Premier League title, while Manchester City look set to settle for second spot. 
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Benitez denies 'hand grenade' Di Canio an explosive start

 

Paolo Di Canio's "management by hand grenade" threatened to pay immediate dividends when Sunderland took the lead against Chelsea on Sunday but Rafa Benitez's team came from behind to deny the Italian a perfect start.

A Cesar Azpilicueta own goal gave the Black Cats the lead at Stamford Bridge but another own goal, this time by Matthew Kilgallon, was followed by Branislav Ivanovic's similarly fortunate winner.

The victory, coupled with Tottenham's draw at Everton, strengthened Chelsea's hopes of a top-four finish but left Di Canio looking ahead to a mouthwatering Tyne-Wear derby as Sunderland edge closer to the drop zone. 

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Rosicky orchestrates Arsenal top-four surge

 

The race for the top four intensified this weekend as ten-men Arsenal clung on to claim three huge points against West Brom, pushing them into the top four at the expense of Chelsea.

The Gunners' unsung squad players have driven the club forward in recent weeks, with Gervinho and 'Little Mozart' Tomas Rosicky combining well at the Hawthorns to narrow the gap to third-placed Tottenham to just a single point.

With Gareth Bale injured and Chelsea in the middle of a tiring and congested fixture list, Arsenal - who have picked up 22 points from a possible 27 in their last nine games - have the other Champions League contenders running scared.

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Heynckes encourages Bayern booze-up

 

Bayern Munich can clinch the Bundesliga title on Saturday if they beat Frankfurt, and boss Jupp Heynckes has allowed his players to let their hair down.

Die Roten have run away at the top of the table this season, leading second-placed Borussia Dortmund by 20 points ahead of their trip to Commerzbank-Arena.

And despite facing a trip to Juventus for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, the 67-year-old has told his charges they can celebrate with a beer or two.
 

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Tottenham hope for lucky Bale break

 

If having to come back from two goals down to salvage a draw against Basel on Thursday night wasn't bad enough for Tottenham, they were left with hearts in mouths late on as Gareth Bale crumpled to the turf, clutching his ankle and was stretchered off.

The Welshman has been Spurs' leading light this season, netting 17 Premier League goals as Andre Villas-Boas looks to steer the north London side back into the Champions League.

With many scoffing that Spurs were a one-man team with Bale in the side, many at White Hart Lane will be praying for a miraculous recovery, to avoid becoming a no-man outfit. 

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Madrid & Mourinho gobble up Galatasaray

 

Real Madrid enjoyed a Champions League feast against Galatasaray at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

The visitors were made to look like turkeys as Jose Mourinho's side raced into the lead early on through Cristiano Ronaldo's goal, before the victory was rubber-stamped by Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain.

The Turkish side have been left with plenty to do at home, needing to score at least four goals to secure one of the competition's biggest ever upsets. 
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Bayern men show their mettle to crush Juventus

 

Bayern Munich further displayed their Champions League credentials with a 2-0 win over Juventus on Tuesday night.

David Alaba and Thomas Muller were the Bayern superheroes, scoring in the first and 63rd minute as the home fans marvelled over the performance at the Allianz Arena.

With Juventus needing to score three unanswered goals in the return leg to progress, it looks as though the Bayern men are ready to march on into the semi-final. 

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Barcelona stars return to scene of Spain triumph

 

The Champions League is back on Tuesday as Barcelona take on Paris Saint-Germain with a number of the Catalan giants' making a swift return to France.

No fewer than eight Barcelona stars were involved as Spain defeated France 1-0 in World Cup qualifying just seven days ago, with Pedro scoring the crucial winning goal.

Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Co. firmly planted their flag at the Stade de France a week ago, but can they do the same again in Paris against a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-led PSG side? 
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Chelsea & Benitez crack in top four hunt

 

Rafa Benitez isn't having a good time of it at the moment, and his Chelsea side suffered another setback in the race for the top four with a 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Benitez elected to shuffle his pack for the trip to the south coast to take on the Saints, resting Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, but the gamble backfired as a makeshift Blues side delivered a lacklustre display.

Chelsea have now won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions, and lie only two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal with eight matches left to play.

And so while his side may deliver some late cheer with an FA Cup qaurter-final victory over Manchester United on Monday evening, at present it's looking like an unhappy easter for Rafa and his men. 
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Football is back!

 

The international break. It was good while it lasted, but we're all jumping for joy it's over. Why? Because it means the real action is back and we're now at the business end of the season.

In the Premier  League, Manchester United look to continue their march to the Premier League title against Sunderland, while Chelsea take on Southampton in the first of four games in a week for Rafa Benitez's men.

Across the continent, Bayern Munich can wrap up the Bundesliga title with seven games to go should results go their way, while Tito Vilanova returns to Barcelona, Real Madrid face Zaragoza and Inter take on Juventus in stellar clash in Serie A.

Football is back alright, and with a BANG! 
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