Liverpool V Everton Report

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423337372.JPG" style="background-color: transparent;" />The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton ended in a goalless draw at the Goodison Park.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers handed a rare start to youngster Jordan Ibe on a night that was made more significant by Steven Gerrard as it represented his last Merseyside derby before his move to MLS side LA Galaxy.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jordan Ibe was not fazed by the occasion as he put in a good shift and in the first half powered a right foot shot from the edge of the box onto the post but Everton survived.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sterling also went close but his shot was SAVED by Joel Robles and at the other end Steven Naismith capitalized on an error by Emre Can but failed to score.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The home side sent on NEW LOAN signing Aaron Lenon as they try to end Gerrard’s last Merseyside derby with a defeat but the Reds were very strong on the night and manager Brendan Rodgers threw into the Frey Daniel Sturridge for Phillip Coutinho as they chased the winner.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;"></o:p></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steven Gerrard nearly had a perfect day in the last five minutes when he fired in a left foot shot from just outside the box but if went wide as the game ended goalless on a very exciting derby weekend across Europe.</span></span><br /><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Liverpool V Everton Report

The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton ended in a goalless draw at the Goodison Park. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers handed a...

Read more »

Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><br /></h2><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"><img src="http://soccerblitz.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/hazard-620x400.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier League goal drought after 11 hours.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With nearest rivals Manchester City held at home by Hull, Branislav Ivanovic’s winner secured a vital victory for the leaders.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa, who had not scored in the league since 20 December, responded well after falling behind to Eden Hazard’s early goal and levelled through Jores Okore’s header at the start of the second half.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But Ivanovic restored the Blues’ advantage after 66 minutes and they went on to secure Jose Mourinho’s first win at Villa Park at the sixth attempt.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The spirit Villa showed in defeat will be scant consolation for Paul Lambert’s struggling side, whose winless run now stands at nine league games, but it appeared they were heading for a far worse defeat when Hazard opened the scoring after eight minutes.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That goal was scored far too easily from Villa’s point of view, with their defence being carved apart as Oscar escaped down the right and fed Willian, who found Hazard running into the area to slot home.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa’s main tactic in Lambert’s 100th league game in charge seemed to be to fire a succession of crosses into the box, despite that fact their out-of-form target man Christian Benteke was dropped to the bench and Gabriel Agbonlahor did not offer much of an aerial threat in his place.<br />Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois gave them hope when he flapped at a couple of deliveries but Chelsea remained comfortable and even created further chances to extend their lead.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That all changed after half-time, when Villa finally found a way to hurt Mourinho’s men.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carles Gil had already shown some neat touches before slipping past Oscar on the by-line and lifting in a perfect pass for Okore to power home a downward header.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal brought wild celebrations from Villa’s players and fans – with Okore booked for running into a crowd, who had not seen a league goal from their side since 20 December.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironic chants of “we score when we want” followed from the home supporters and with Chelsea pegged back in their own half, for a few minutes it least, it appeared more might follow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not for the first time this season, the Blues found themselves in a battle, but they responded in perfect fashion.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mourinho’s men held firm at the back and began to build their own spell of pressure. Willian sent two shots skidding narrowly wide but the waves of Chelsea attacks were becoming relentless.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Villa cracked after 66 minutes, when they failed to deal with Cesar Azpilicueta’s run and cross into the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ball broke for Ivanovic on the edge of the box, who fizzed an unstoppable first-time shot into the top corner.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tweet</div><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Chelsea move seven points ahead of City

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points after seeing off an Aston Villa team who finally ended their Premier Lea...

Read more »

A.Madrid Trash R.Madrid

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><img src="http://fcnaija.com/post/1423326810.jpg" /><br /><a name="more"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.6000003814697px; line-height: 18.0000019073486px;"> </span><br /><h2 style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;">Real Madrid were taken apart by Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale spectators as Diego Simone’s side ran riot in a 4-0 victory.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is the first time in 64 years that Real have lost three straight games in the ground of their neighbours but this was different – this was embarrassing for the richest club in football, smothered from the first kick to last by their poor-relations city neighbours.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real’s £250m forward line of Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema mustered just one shot in a first half dominated by Atletico Madrid who scored twice through Tiago and Saul.<br />And in the second half the suffering CONTINUED when the brilliant Antoine Griezmann added a third and Mario Mandzukic made it four.</div><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #777777; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 10px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A shell-shocked Carlo Ancelotti said after the game. ‘They deserved to WIN because they won in every facet: they won the battle and they won the football match. We will have to change our attitude going forward.</strong></div><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘We were second to everything; we lost all the aerial challenges, we weren’t in the game. None of our players played well. It’s the worst performance since I have been the manager.’</strong></div><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Simeone said: ‘The way the players carried out the plan was brilliant. We went about the job very seriously and now we need to keep going forward the same way.’</strong></div></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked if they were now title candidates he said: ‘We still take it one get at a time.’ And when it was put to him that it was one of his greatest games in charge of Atletico Madird he said: ‘No, it was just another a league game’.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Atletico Madrid shot out of the blocks. In contrast Real Madrid were strolling and it wasn’t long before they were paying the price for that lack of intensity. Gabi’s Corner on 13 minutes was brought down by Mandzukic who laid it back to Tiago on the edge of the area.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Chelsea midfielder shot through a crowded penalty area and Iker Casillas fumbled the effort and allowed it to squirm over the line. ‘Iker Iker’ sung the Atletico Madrid supporters. They had been given a helping hand by Real’s keeper, not that they needed it.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Madrid were playing without three of their first-choice back four and it was showing with Fabio Coentrao struggling to deal with Arda Turan and Nacho and Raphael Varane not able to handle Mandzukic.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps their preoccupation with the Croat striker was the reason why they left Saul in so much space in the penalty area on 19 minutes. The young midfielder who was out on LOAN at Rayo Vallecano last season and interesting a host of Premier League clubs had only been on the pitch for nine minutes replacing the injured Koke.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Siqueira got away from Dani Carvajal, dribbled along the byline and pulled the ball back where Saul finished with an acrobatic scissor kick past a this-time faultless Casillas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carvajal had received no support from Bale who had more importantly been anonymous in attack down the Madrid right. Likewise Ronaldo was missing in action down the left. By half time Carlo Ancelotti had seen enough and put Ronaldo at centre forward bringing, on Jese at the EXPENSE of Sami Khedira but it made no real difference.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real were fortunate to only be two goals down at half-time. Griezmann had scored what would have been a third only to be incorrectly flagged offside. And a Godin shot had hit Khedira on the face and then the hand leaving Atletico players demanding a penalty.</div><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

A.Madrid Trash R.Madrid

  Real Madrid were taken apart by Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderon with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale spectators as Diego...

Read more »

Kane helps Spurs Defeat Arsenal

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><img alt="Danny Welbeck" src="http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/scaled/696x392/feb_15/gun__1423320799_welbz.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />We</div><a name="more"></a>nger's 45th derby was also his 700th Premier League game as Arsenal manager - and he sprang a minor surprise before kick-off.<br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><span style="font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Welbeck, back after six weeks out with a thigh injury, replaced Theo Walcott in an otherwise unchanged line-up.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Arsenal lost for the first time in six games as Tottenham came from behind to win the north London derby.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mesut Ozil volleyed the visitors ahead in the 11th minute following good work from Danny Welbeck, but Harry Kane tucked home a second-half equaliser from close range.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David Ospina made a string of important SAVES as Tottenham enjoyed long spells of pressure, but Kane beat the Colombian with a towering header four minutes from time.</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;">Welbeck and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;"> </span>Laurent Koscielny<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;">went closest to a second goal for Arsène Wenger's side, but Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kept them at bay.</span></span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-n4, ff-meta-web-pro, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-top: 21px;"><br /></div><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Kane helps Spurs Defeat Arsenal

We nger's 45th derby was also his 700th Premier League game as Arsenal manager - and he sprang a minor surprise before kick-off. Welbeck...

Read more »

Aston Villa v Chelsea Lineups

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><img src="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/homepage/news/boilerplate-config/blogs/boilerplate---guest-fan-blog/guest-fan-blog/excitement-building/_jcr_content.autoteaser.jpeg" /><br /><a name="more"></a><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;"><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;">Juan Cuadrado is named among the substitutes for the first time with <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Gary Cahill</a> and <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Didier Drogba</a> returning to the starting line-up.</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;"><a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Kurt Zouma</a> and Loic Remy make way in an otherwise unchanged side.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a> has recovered from the injury that forced him off against Man City and takes his place in a familiar attacking midfield trio.</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;">Ramires CONTINUES in central midfield in the absence of <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesc-fabregas.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Cesc Fabregas</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;">For Villa, there is one change in each of the defence, midfield and attack, with Aly Cissokho, Ashley Westwood and Gabby Agbonlahor coming in. Former Chelsea pair Joe Cole and Scott Sinclair are on the bench.  </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; text-decoration: none;"> Ivanovic</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/gary-cahill.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Cahill</a>, Terry (c),<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/cesar-azpilicueta.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Azpilicueta</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/ramires.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Ramires</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/nemanja-matic.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Matic</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/willian.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Willian</a>, Oscar, <a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/eden-hazard.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Hazard</a>;<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/didier-drogba.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; 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;">Subs:<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/petr-cech.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Cech</a>,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/content/cfc/en/archived/players/kurt-zouma2.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Zouma</a>, Ake,<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/john-mikel-obi.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"> Mikel</a>, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado, 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;">Villa are expected to line up in the following 4-3-3 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;">Guzan: Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho; Westwood, Delph, Cleverley; Gil, Agbonlahor (c). Weimann.</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: Given, Vlaar, Bacuna, Sinclair, Cole, Sanchez, Benteke.</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 Neil Swarbrick. </div><br />Chelseafc.com<br /><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#appId=173511999379139&xfbml=1"></script><fb:like expr:share_url="data:post.url" font="" send="false" show_faces="true" width="450"></fb:like>

Aston Villa v Chelsea Lineups

Juan Cuadrado is named among the substitutes for the first time with  Gary Cahill  and  Didier Drogba  returning to the starting line-up. Ku...

Read more »

Canadian university offers chance to study Cristiano Ronaldo

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a><br /><br /><img src="http://static.goal.com/700800/700822_heroa.jpg" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"></span><br /><a name="more"></a>A Canadian university is offering fans of Cristiano Ronaldo<span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;"> the opportunity to take a course in the </span>Real Madrid <span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">star.</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 University of British Columbia Okanagan is enrolling for a fourth-year sociology module on Ronaldo due to his popularity and influence on Portuguese and global society.</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;">Luis LM Aguiar, associate professor of sociology in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, said: "Sociology is nothing if not the delving into the processes of structuring identities and experiences and exposing the social forces that push these processes.</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;">"In this case, I'm interested in how Ronaldo has been used to construct several discourses about who he is, what makes him distinct as a footballer, what is his relationship to Portugal, Madeira (his hometown) and indeed Portuguese identity."</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;">During the semester-long course, students will examine the stereotypical image of Ronaldo and the Portuguese diaspora.</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;">"Ronaldo is said to embody features and characteristics of speed, strength, competetiveness, dogged work ethic, discipline, and adaptability," added Aguiar on </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">news.ok.ubc.ca</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;">.</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 features are also in a sense 'very Portuguese' since the Portuguese outside the homeland are nothing if not constructed as hard workers, disciplined and determined. Even as a global athlete transcending geographical boundaries, Ronaldo cannot  escape the stereotypical constructions of 'the Portuguese'.</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;">"My two greatest passions are football and critical sociology. A course on Cristiano Ronaldo gives me the opportunity to combine the two.</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;">"While I’m an admirer of Ronaldo, I’m also a sociologist interested in understanding the social and economic forces driving the various constructions of this athlete and what this says about our contemporary values and culture."</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;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #081f2c; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.960000038147px; line-height: 20.7360000610352px;" />

Canadian university offers chance to study Cristiano Ronaldo

Tweet Share A Canadian university is offering fans of Cristiano Ronaldo  the opportunity to take a course in the  Real Madrid  star. The Uni...

Read more »

The 20-man squad for the Atlético clash

<div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="tall"></div><img src="http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1203355172643&ssbinary=true" /><br /><div class="m_section_news_header" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 2em; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;">Real Madrid travel to the Vicente Calderón for matchday 22 of the La Liga campaign.</span></div><div class="m_text_content" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="cap" style="font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">Carlo Ancelotti has named 20 players in his squad for the Real Madrid's La Liga matchday 22 meeting with Atlético in the Vicente Calderón (Saturday at 4pm CET).<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">REAL MADRID SQUAD:</strong><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Goalkeepers: </strong>Casillas, Keylor Navas and Pacheco.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Defenders: </strong>Varane, Coentrão, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho and Diego Llorente.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Midfielders:</strong> Khedira, Kroos, Bale, Lucas Silva, Isco and Illarra.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Forwards: </strong>Cristiano Ronaldo,<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </strong>Benzema, Chicharito and Jesé.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PRE-MATCH MEET-UP:</strong><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Friday 6 February at 8:30pm CET at Ciudad Real Madrid.</div></div><br /><a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script><a class="wa_btn wa_btn_s" data-href="" data-text="Take a look at this awesome website:" href="whatsapp://send" style="display: none;">Share</a>

The 20-man squad for the Atlético clash

Real Madrid travel to the Vicente Calderón for matchday 22 of the La Liga campaign. Carlo Ancelotti has named 20 players in his squad for th...

Read more »