Group A | Group B |
Inter | Olympique Lyonnais |
Werder Bremen | Benfica |
Tottenham Hotspur | Schalke |
Twente | Hapoel Tel-Aviv |
Group C | Group D |
Manchester United | Barcelona |
Valencia | Panathinaikos |
Rangers | FC Copenhagen |
Bursaspor | Rubin Kazan |
Group E | Group F |
Bayern Munich | Chelsea |
Roma | Marseille |
Basel | Spartak Moscow |
CFR Cluj | MSK Zilina |
Group G | Group H |
AC Milan | Arsenal |
Real Madrid | Shakhtar Donetsk |
Ajax | Sporting Braga |
Auxerre | Partizan |
Friday, August 27, 2010
Champion League Group Draw
Arsenal Signing New Defender
The Spanish club had announced at the weekend that a £6.5 million deal had been agreed between the clubs, nd today the Gunners have announced the capture of the French international
The 30-year-old centre-back will not be available for the weekend game against Blackburn Rovers but he will be eligible for the Champions League campaign, after he was left out of Sevilla's play-off with Sporting Braga.
Speaking in a press conference today, Wenger stated that he is in no doubt the Gunners have acquired a fine player who will suit the fast-paced style of the Premier League.
"We needed a centre-back of quality and experience if possible, and at the right price - he was all of that," Wenger told reporters.
"He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well.
"I believe he will be suited to the English game. He will train with us tomorrow morning, but will not be involved on Saturday."
Squillaci moved to Sevilla in the summer of 2008 from Ligue 1 side Lyon, and has been capped 21 times for France.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Arsenal And Chelsea Big Won
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Premier League weekend previews
Having opened the defence of their Premier League title with a 6-0 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion last week, Chelsea now face the team they beat 8-0 to secure the crown three months ago.
Arsenal have included captain Cesc Fabregas, striker Robin van Persie, midfielder Alex Song and defender Johan Djourou in the squad for tomorrow's visit of Blackpool.
However, summer signing Laurent Koscielnyis suspended after the centre-back's dismissal at Liverpool and Brazilian midfielderDenilson is still out with an abdominal injury.
Winger Samir Nasri will be sidelined for a month after minor knee surgery while youngster Emmanuel Frimpong is set to miss most of the campaign after tearing knee ligaments.
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton captain Phil Neville is a slight doubt for Saturday's Premier League clash against Wolves at Goodison Park.
The former England international has a foot injury but boss David Moyes is hopeful he will be fit to feature.
Striker Victor Anichebe is unlikely to play after having an injection in the knee to ease bone bruising.
Wolves have fresh injury concerns over three of their new signings.
Forward Steven Fletcher has a bruised foot, and manager Mick McCarthy will assess his fitness.
Defender Jelle Van Damme is described by McCarthy as a "serious doubt" after twisting his ankle, Steven Mouyokolomay also miss the match with a damaged hamstring, while Dave Edwards is out with a groin injury.
However, last season's to scorer Kevin Doyle is set to return from a calf injury which kept him out of the team's opening day win over Stoke.
Stoke v Tottenham
Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones could make a swift return to action against Tottenham at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Jones, who joined the Potters earlier this month for a club record £8million fromSunderland, limped off with an ankle problem barely 10 minutes into their Barclays Premier League opener at Wolves last weekend, but a series of scans and X-rays showed the Trinidadian had suffered only minor ligament damage.
Tottenham are hit by a major injury crisis with manager Harry Redknapp admitting he is struggling to fill his bench.
Peter Crouch is Spurs' only fit striker, with Jermain Defoe (groin), Robbie Keane (knee) and Roman Pavyluchenko (ankle) all out.
Giovani dos Santos (hamstring) also picked up an injury on the artificial pitch at Young Boys on Tuesday night, Luka Modric has failed to recover from his groin strain, while Redknapp must decide whether to field Ledley King or save him for Wednesday's Champions League return match with the Swiss side.
Birmingham v Blackburn
New signing Matt Derbyshire will make his Birmingham debut in their Barclays Premier League match against Blackburn at St Andrew's.
The former Rovers striker joined the Blues this week from Greek side Olympiacos on a season-long loan.
Nikola Zigic will also be pushing for a start up front after impressing off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland last week while Kevin Phillips (thigh) is the only definite absentee.
Blackburn's David Dunn is set to miss out due to a groin problem.
The midfielder picked up the injury in last week's 1-0 win over Everton and is not expected to be fit for selection until after the match at St Andrew's.
The same applies to Vince Grella (calf) but boss Sam Allardyce hopes to have both back for next week's Carling Cup encounter with Norwich City
Friday, August 20, 2010
Spain Rampage: Bull jumps, charges into crowd injuring 40 at bullfight
Thursday, August 19, 2010
France FA Bans 4 player in World Cup at South Africa
- Nicolas Anelka handed an 18-match ban in International games
- Patrice Evra has been ban 5 match
- Jeremy Toulalan has been one match.
Recently, new boss Laurent Blanc did not include any of the players who featured in South Africa in his first list of call-ups for a friendly against Norway, which les Bleus lost 2-1.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Real Madrid Sign another new star Ozil.
Oezil has been linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the end of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, in which he helped Germany reach the semi-finals. He had just one year left on his contract with Werder and could have signed for a new club for free at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Man U defeat the Newcastle U 3-0
Top transfer player
1 Last week: 1 | David VILLA | Barcelona - Valencia - €40m The blockbuster deal of the summer so far. 'El Guaje' will add more firepower to an already explosive Barcelona attack. After his successful World Cup exploits with Spain, he should be the odds on favourite to win the Pichichi. |
2 Last week: 2 | Marouane CHAMAKH | Arsenal - Bordeaux - Free A classic Arsenal value buy that has the potential to be an extremely saavy signing. The ex-Bordeaux striker gives the Gunners a much needed aerial presence up front and could terrorise opposing backlines this season with Robin van Persie. |
3 Last week: 3 | Yaya TOURE | Manchester City - Barcelona - €29m City have flexed their financial muscle this summer and the Ivorian adds more steel to an already industrial strength midfield. Will team up with brother Kolo on the defensive side for the Citizens. |
4 Last week: 4 | Simon KJAER | Wolfsburg - Palermo - €14m Wolfsburg pulled one the coups of the summer by luring the defensive stalwart to the Bundesliga. The German outfit beat such heavyweights as Manchester United, Liverpool and AC Milan to the punch to land the highly-rated Danish defender. |
5 Last week: 5 | ADRIANO Correia | Barcelona - Sevilla - €9.5+4m Joins former Sevilla team-mate Dani Alves at Barcelona and the wing-back gives coach Pep Guardiola another weapon to unleash against his opponents across a variety of positions. |
6 Last week: 6 | David SILVA | Manchester City - Valencia - €30.2m The uber-talented winger takes his trickery to Manchester after seven years in Spain. Did not play a major role in la Furia Roja's triumph in South Africa but will hope to justify his lofty price-tag by helping City qualify for the Champions League. |
7 Last week: 7 | Joe COLE | Liverpool - Chelsea - Free The England winger will have something to prove after his substitute's role in South Africa and his unceremonious departure from Stamford Bridge, where he was deemed surplus to requirements. Chelsea's discarded trash could prove to be Liverpool's treasure. |
8 Last week: 8 | Pedro LEON | Real Madrid - Getafe - €10m Makes the intra-city switch to the Merengues after helping Getafe qualify for the Europa League with a sixth-place finish. Comfortable with the ball at his feet the versatile winger could surprise many who have yet to see him play. |
9 Last week: 9 | Aleksandr KOLAROV | Manchester City - Lazio - €19.3m The Serb will be keen to show off his rocket of a left foot for the Citizens. His marauding runs into opposition territory will sorely be missed by Lazio fans but will be a thing to behold for the City faithful at Eastlands. |
10 NEW ENTRY | Angel DI MARIA | Real Madrid - Benfica - €25m The young Argentine winger was Real Madrid's first signing this summer under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, who made it his first priority to inject width into the team by bringing in wide players. He remains Los Blancos' most expensive purchase this summer, and expectations will be high. |
11 Last week: 10 | Javier HERNANDEZ | Manchester United - Chivas Guadalajara -€9.7m 'Chicharito' makes the jump from Mexico to England with the Red Devils. He did his reputation no harm at the World Cup with Mexico and has already been hailed as 'first class' by new manager Alex Ferguson. Hernandez is definitely one for the future. |
12 Last week: 11 | FILIPE Luis | Atletico Madrid - Deportivo La Coruna - €12m The dynamic Brazilian left-back will hope to put the horrific injury he suffered last season behind him and force his way into Mano Menezes' new look Selecao squad with an impressive campaign for Atletico. Gives los Colchoneros an attacking threat from the back as they look to improve on their disappointing ninth-place finish last term. |
13 NEW ENTRY | RAFINHA | Genoa - Schalke - €8m 'Little Rafa' was one of the most courted right-backs in the world last summer with Juventus, AC Milan and Bayern Munich tracking the 24-year-old and this year, Inter and Atletico Madrid joined the race. It's a huge surprise then that the Brazilian ended up at modest but ambitious Genoa. |
14 NEW ENTRY | HERNANES | Lazio - Sao Paulo - €10m The highly rated midfielder was expected to join one of Serie A's top dogs with Juventus, Milan and Inter fighting over his signature at one stage. But it was Lazio who were the most willing to dish out the €10m to secure his services. |
15 Last week: 12 | Mehmet TOPAL | Valencia - Galatasaray - €4m The 24-year-old leaves his homeland for a Spanish adventure and will be entrusted with the task of protecting his new side's back four. The Euro 2008 participant could end up being an inspired purchase at a bargain-basement price. |
16 Last week: 13 | ADRIANO Ribeiro | AS Roma - Flamengo - Free 'The Emperor' will win over the hearts and minds of the Roman people if he can lead the Giallorossi to their first Serie A title since the 2000-01 campaign. He needs to exorcise the demons that haunted him at Inter to break his old club's stranglehold on the Scudetto. |
17 Last week: 14 | Roberto SOLDADO | Valencia - Getafe - €8m Los Che are relying on Soldado to fill the shoes of the departed David Villa. The former Real Madrid man could be the striker to fire in enough goals to eradicate the duopoly at the top of the Liga table. |
18 Last week: 15 | Milan JOVANOVIC | Liverpool - Standard Liege - Free The price was certainly right for the cash strapped Reds to snap up the Serbian attacker from Standard Liege. Jovanovic can win over the Anfield faithful with the type of performances that saw him win the Jupiler League's Player of the Year in 2009. |
19 Last week: 16 | Leonardo BONUCCI | Juventus - Bari - €15.5m Succumbed to the Old Lady's advances and has the potential to be Italy's next great centre-back. He should slot in nicely beside Giorgio Chiellini to minimise the defensive mishaps that plagued the Bianconeri last season. |
20 Last week: 17 | Sami KHEDIRA | Real Madrid - Stuttgart - €13.6m He was one of the first names on Germany coach Joachim Loew's team sheet in the World Cup. He used the South African jamboree as his coming out party and his solid showings convinced Real Madrid to come calling for his services. |