STURRIDGE STRIKES on Return

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://static.goal.com/884600/884692_herol.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">T</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span></div><a name="more"></a>he striker made his mark on the afternoon when he drilled home a near-post finish on 80 minutes shortly after being introduced as a substitute for his first appearance since August 31.<br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">A magnificent one-two between Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho had earlier opened up the Hammers' defence and allowed the former to slot home the game's opener.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Sturridge's goal, after another Coutinho assist, then put the seal on a fine day's work for the Reds, who extended their unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League to seven matches.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Brendan Rodgers elected to make just one change to his starting line-up, with Adam Lallana replacing Steven Gerrard.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Elsewhere, on the bench, Sturridge was named in the matchday squad for the first time in five months, while West Ham included two former Reds in their team in Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Liverpool made an enterprising start to the contest and with just six minutes on the clock, fashioned a good chance to open the scoring. Lallana and Sterling combined, but a powerful James Collins challenge denied a shot at goal, and Lazar Markovic struck the rebound into a crowd of bodies.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">In what was proving to be an intriguing encounter, Lallana then tried his luck twice at goal in quick succession, while at the other end, Enner Valencia slammed a free-kick into a Reds wall and Kevin Nolan had a close-range blast blocked by Martin Skrtel.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The hosts were looking particularly threatening on the break and just before the 20-minute mark, a speedy counter resulted in captain-for-the-day Jordan Henderson curling into the arms of Adrian after being teed up by Sterling on the edge of the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Soon after, Sterling's ingenious flick into Coutinho's path dissected the West Ham defence and released the No.10 into a shooting position, but his powerfully-struck drive was beaten away by Adrian's fists.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Simon Mignolet was called into action when Carroll's attempt to guide a header into the corner looped off Henderson and into the gloves of the goalkeeper.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Back came Liverpool and Lallana looked certain to net when a deflected Sterling effort ran into his path, but off balance, the midfielder was thwarted by Collins's challenge.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Then, in first-half stoppage time, Markovic spurned a glorious opportunity to put the Reds in front when he intercepted a wayward ball from Joey O'Brien, broke into space in the box but steered wide of the post from 12 yards.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The home team began the second period with positive intent and Alberto Moreno should have done better when a mazy run from Sterling down the right resulted in him delivering a ball to the back post, where the Spaniard's sliced volley went awry.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">But Liverpool did finally put themselves in front six minutes after the break with a moment of brilliance.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Sterling bounced Moreno's delivery from the left off his chest and into the path of Coutinho before spinning into the box. In the blink of an eye, the Brazilian had returned the ball with a single touch and the Reds' England forward made no mistake with a neat finish.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">West Ham had Adrian to thank for the hosts' lead not being further extended when he smartly stopped a drive from distance from Coutinho, though the custodian would have been able to do little about a similar effort from Henderson soon after had it been on target.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Then, on 68 minutes, it was time for the return of Sturridge after five months. The 25-year-old took the place of Markovic and was afforded an incredible reception from the home fans as he crossed the white line.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Winston Reid threatened to spoil the party when he glanced inches wide from a corner, but the moment everyone inside Anfield was waiting for finally arrived with 10 minutes remaining.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Collecting a well-weighted pass from Coutinho, Sturridge showed no signs of rustiness as he steadied himself before driving beyond Adrian at the near post from a tight angle.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">The scenes of celebration that erupted inside Anfield of course included the 25-year-old's trademark dance as Liverpool were left to enjoy a day of many positives.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px;">Liverpoolfc.com</div>

STURRIDGE STRIKES on Return

T he striker made his mark on the afternoon when he drilled home a near-post finish on 80 minutes shortly after being introduced as a substi...

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Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class="summary-text" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/latest-news/2015/01/team-news--chelsea-v-manchester-city.img.png" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">Loic</span></div><a name="more"></a> Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">Diego Costa</a><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 24px;">.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</a> has not recovered from the problem that forced him off against Liverpool so<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Ramires</a> comes into an otherwise unchanged midfield.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> continues as <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-terry.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">John Terry</a>’s partner in central defence. <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Branislav Ivanovic</a> is fit and at right-back so makes his 300<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> Chelsea appearance, 200 of those Premier League games. He is the fifth overseas player to reach the triple century mark for Chelsea.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">There is a young look to the Chelsea bench with Academy products <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Andreas Christensen</a> and Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined by 18-year-old striker Izzy Brown. He was previously among the subs for the Capital One Cup tie at Shrewsbury.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">For Man City, there is one change from their defeat against Arsenal. Bacary Sagna replaces Pablo Zabaleta at right-back.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Courtois;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/branislav-ivanovic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>, Oscar, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>; Remy.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs:<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cech</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Cahill</a>, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/andreas-christensen.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;">Christensen</a>, Ake, Loftus-Cheek, Brown,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3886de; text-decoration: none;"> Drogba</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Man City are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, Silva, Milner; Aguero.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Zabaleta, Boyata, Lampard, Jovetic, Dzeko. </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The referee is Mark Clattenburg.  </div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Syntax, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Chelseafc.com</div>

Team news: Chelsea v Manchester City

Loic Remy is the striker chosen to replace the suspended  Diego Costa . Cesc Fabregas  has not recovered from the problem that forced him o...

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Wolfsburg end Bayern's league run

<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Two</span><br /><a name="more"></a> goals each for Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne saw Wolfsburg<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> stun </span>Bayern Munich<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> with an emphatic 4-1 win on Friday.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The first game back after Germany's mid-season break gave Wolfsburg's players and fans the opportunity to honour the life of 20-year-old midfielder Junior Mandala, who died in a car crash earlier this month, before kick-off.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Dieter Hecking's team, who were 11 points behind leaders Bayern in second before Friday's match, proceeded to give a stirring performance from the first whistle - Dost handing them a fourth-minute lead.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Making only his fourth start of an injury-hit campaign, Dutch striker Dost doubled his tally in first-half stoppage time before the excellent De Bruyne took centre-stage.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The Belgium international displayed visible emotion in memory of his countryman Mandala when he made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Although Juan Bernat hit back for Bayern two minutes later, De Bruyne would mesmerizingly turn Dante inside-out to rifle in an unstoppable fourth and seal Bayern's worst league defeat since a 5-1 thrashing on the same ground in April 2009.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Following a poignant pre-match tribute to Mandala - commemorated with a lengthy period of applause before a moment's silence - Wolfsburg stylishly took the lead from their first attack.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Luiz Gustavo intercepted Thomas Muller's pass to launch a clinical counterattack. Daniel Caligiuri's exquisite throughball from the right picked out De Bruyne, who selflessly touched the ball into </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Dost</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">'s path to stroke home.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Aside from the goal, Bayern largely bossed the early exchanges and Wolfsburg defender Robin Knoche made a timely block to deny Robert Lewandowski in the 14th minute.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The champions' usual poise deserted them as the half wore on and they might have been further behind when Xabi Alonso carelessly gave away possession to De Bruyne, but he was unable to pick out Dost on this occasion – the Dutchman scuffing another effort wide soon after.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">However, he would not rue his misses for long.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Bayern half-cleared a stoppage-time set-piece and, although </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Dost</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">'s contact did not appear to be completely clean, the Dutchman lashed into the top corner via the upright.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Though Caligiuri could not convert Ivan Perisic's superb left wing cross soon after the interval, Wolfsburg once again would not pay for their profligacy as Bayern's defensive efforts completely unravelled.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Centre-halves Jerome Boateng and Dante's eagerness to press up the field was exposed as a simple pass from Maximilian Arnold sent </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">De Bruyne</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> racing clear to finish coolly.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Bayern reduced the deficit instantly - </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Bernat</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> left with a tap in as Naldo failed to clear his initial prod goalwards.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Wolfsburg were unbowed and Dost headed back across goal for Arnold to lift over from close range after Perisic had further joy down the Bayern right in the 57th minute.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Home goalkeeper Diego Benaglio pushed a firmly struck free kick from Arjen Robben over but, with 17 minutes to play, </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">De Bruyne</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> had the sensational final word.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Arnold was the provider once more as the number of league goals Bayern have conceded this season was doubled in one unforgettable outing.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Goal.com</span>

Wolfsburg end Bayern's league run

Two goals each for Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne saw Wolfsburg  stun  Bayern Munich  with an emphatic 4-1 win on Friday. The first game back...

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Diego Costa Hammered with 3 match Ban

<img src="http://static.goal.com/876700/876712_heroa.jpg" /><br />Chelsea<br /><a name="more"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> striker </span>Diego Costa<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> has been banned for three matches by the Football Association after failing with his appeal against a violent conduct charge for a stamp on </span><span style="background-color: white;">Liverpool's</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> </span>Emre Can<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> on Tuesday.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Spain international Costa was challenging for the ball by the touchline in the first half of the second-leg League Cup semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge when he forcefully stood on Can's shin.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The incident went unpunished during the match, which Chelsea won 1-0 to progress 2-1 on aggregate, as referee Michael Oliver did not see the challenge. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The FA subsequently charged Costa with violent conduct, a decision the player contested.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">However, an FA Independent Regulatory Commission has now chosen to uphold the original ruling and handed out a three-match ban.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven by an Independent Regulatory Commission on Friday 30 January 2015," an FA statement read.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"The Chelsea forward had denied the charge in relation to an on-field incident involving Liverpool's Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 27 January 2015.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The news is a huge blow to Chelsea ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Costa is also set to miss out on the trip to Aston Villa on February 7 and the home match with Everton four days later.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho defended Costa after the game and the ban is sure to irk the Portuguese, who stated the coming together with Can was "accidental".</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Mourinho said: "Maybe you [the media] are already influenced by the campaign on the television with certain pundits saying that Costa has crimes - they must be nuts, the guy who says that.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"I have to say that he goes for the ball, he chases it, the opponent [Can] goes to the floor and he puts his foot there when he is looking at the ball... What you call stamps, and Sky calls crimes, I have to say accidental."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers took a different view of the incident, and called for the FA to take action.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"These things happen in the game but I think anyone watching it would not like to see what we've seen Diego Costa do," Rodgers told Sky Sports.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">"Not just on Martin Skrtel but on Emre Can, a young player who was clearly stamped on. You don't want to see that. There's no need for it."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Costa has proven an instant hit at Stamford Bridge, scoring 17 Premier League goals since joining in a big-money move from Atletico Madrid in the close-season.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">However, his on-field behaviour has come under the spotlight due to Costa picking up eight bookings in all competitions, including a caution in a 6-3 win at Everton in August where he squared up to goalkeeper Tim Howard.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Goal.com</span>

Diego Costa Hammered with 3 match Ban

Chelsea  striker  Diego Costa  has been banned for three matches by the Football Association after failing with his appeal against a violent...

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Official: Ameobi Arrives At Crystal Palace

<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><img src="http://mobile.cpfc.co.uk/cms_images/news/shola-43380-2234521_478x359.jpg" /><a name="more"></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Crystal Palace have completed the signing of striker Shola Ameobi on a free transfer.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">The Nigerian international has signed a short-term with the Eagles until the end of the season and was a free agent after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep last month.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">“I'm very excited to be here, I wanted to get back in the Premier League and having worked with the manager before it's been great to come back and hopefully help us avoid the relegation battle,” he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">“I had a couple of other clubs interested but I think my relationship with Alan [Pardew] and how much I enjoyed working with him was one of the big factor in my decision.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">“He instils confidence in players and he always seems to get the best out of them, certainly he did that at Newcastle and hopefully he can do that for me and the rest of the lads here.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">The 33-year-old is best known for his time with Newcastle United, where he spent 14 years after breaking into the first-team from their academy. In nearly a decade and a half on Tyneside he appeared 397 times for the Magpies, finding the back of the net 79 times, winning the Championship in 2009/10 and representing the club in the UEFA Champions League.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">Ameobi has also won 10 caps for Nigeria where he was born before moving to Newcastle as a youngster. He represented the Super Eagles in the 2014 World Cup, having previously won 20 caps for the England under-21 side.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">He is no stranger to Palace boss Alan Pardew, having played under him for Newcastle for four years before moving to Turkey in the summer on a free after his contract expired. He scored four times in 11 outings for Gaziantep before returning to England just before the new year.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;">The striker will wear the number 23 shirt during his time with Palace, and is the club's third signing of the transfer window after Yaya Sanogo and Jordon Mutch.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22.1000003814697px;"><br /></div>

Official: Ameobi Arrives At Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of striker Shola Ameobi on a free transfer. The Nigerian international has signed a short-term wit...

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Angry Arda throws boot at linesman

<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Arda Turan</span><br /><a name="more"></a> was booked for throwing his boot at the assistant referee during the club's Copa del Rey encounter with Barcelona on Wednesday evening.<br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">The Turkey international lost his boot in a tackle three minutes into the second half of the game at the Vicente Calderon and then, seemingly incensed at not being awarded a free kick, launched it at the linesman, only narrowly missing the official's head.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">It was the most controversial incident in a fiery encounter in the Spanish capital, with Atletico having been infuriated by the referee's failure to award them a penalty for an alleged Jordi Alba handball just seconds before Barca broke to make it 3-2 through Neymar in the 41st minute.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">Video:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/VGeV81G3Q38/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VGeV81G3Q38?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />

Angry Arda throws boot at linesman

Arda Turan was booked for throwing his boot at the assistant referee during the club's Copa del Rey encounter with Barcelona on Wednesd...

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Cristiano Ronaldo given two-match ban

<div id="headline" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; outline-style: none;"><h1 class="story-header" itemprop="headline" style="font-size: 2.308em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.2px; line-height: 1.2; margin: -2px 0px 18px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 6px;"><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80581000/jpg/_80581410_ronaldoedimar_getty.jpg" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;" /></h1><h1 class="story-header" itemprop="headline" style="font-size: 2.308em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.2px; line-height: 1.2; margin: -2px 0px 18px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 6px;">Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo given two-match ban after red card</h1></div><div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.462em; line-height: 1.11; margin-top: 20px; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a two-match ban after his sending-off for kicking out at Cordoba defender Edimar on Saturday.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The forward, 29, will miss the next two La Liga games against Real Sociedad and Sevilla but will be available for the derby against Atletico Madrid.</div><div style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; line-height: 1.35; outline-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">The Portuguese, whose earlier punch at Jose Angel Crespo was missed by the referee, and was later dismissed on 82 minutes.</div>

Cristiano Ronaldo given two-match ban

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo given two-match ban after red card Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has been given a two-match ban af...

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