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Villa revelling in Barca harmony






Updated Feb 11, 2011 5:22 AM ET
Barcelona striker David Villa credits their long winning run to dressing room unity and hopes it can help them to another victory this weekend.
The Catalans will look to extend their streak to 17 matches when they take on Sporting Gijon - former employers of Villa - in a Saturday evening kick-off at El Molinon.

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And 29-year-old Villa is perfectly placed to offer an insight into what makes the Barca winning machine tick having only arrived at the club in summer.
"When I arrived, the coach and my team-mates gave me their support and confidence," the 29-year-old told Sky Sports News.
"They let me know they had chosen me and that they hadn't made a mistake in doing so and that we would end up achieving success. That's how it's panning out, little by little.
"I knew a lot of people in the dressing room already. It's not a fairytale; it's a normal relaxed place where everyone is in harmony."
Villa played for the best part of an hour in Spain's 1-0 friendly win over Colombia on Wednesday but is expected to be fit for Saturday's match.
Real Madrid, in second place behind Barca by a daunting seven points, travel to the Catalan capital on Sunday to take on Espanyol, buoyed by a 4-1 win at home to Real Sociedad - a game which saw Emmanuel Adebayor score his second goal for the club following his loan move from Manchester City.
"I'm very happy for scoring two goals," said Adebayor.
"I will work hard every day to help win our games.
"It is very easy to work with (manager Jose) Mourinho. He is an excellent person and he enhances my game.
"He has his own way of dealing with people. He tells you what he expects you to do."

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Villarreal, who lead the best of the rest behind La Liga's two dominant clubs, take on Deportivo La Coruna hoping for better luck than they got in their surprise 1-0 defeat to Levante last time out.
That win took Levante to one point from safety and they can climb out of the relegation spots altogether if they can win against fellow strugglers Almeria and Deportivo drop points.
Malaga, bottom of the division, eked out a point from their 0-0 draw with Sevilla last time out and are at home to Malaga.
Atletico Madrid, taken apart 3-0 by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barca last time out, take on Champions League hopefuls Valencia, Racing Santander host Sevilla, Hercules meet Real Zaragoza and, on Monday, Athletic Bilbao travel to Real Mallorca.

Atletico Madrid facing must-win against Valencia

4 comments »

Updated Feb 10, 2011 7:45 AM ET
Atletico Madrid's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League face a big test Saturday when the club plays fourth-place Valencia in the Spanish league.
The struggling club has won only one of its nine games since the start of the new year and is closer to the relegation zone than Valencia. Atletico trails Valencia by 14 points and is only nine points ahead of Levante, which is 18th.
League leader Barcelona will be looking to stretch its Spanish league record winning run to 17 games at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, while Real Madrid plays at Espanyol on Sunday.

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Madrid trails two-time defending champion Barcelona by seven points.
Atletico turned down big-money offers from Chelsea and Madrid for striker Sergio Aguero, and also staved off January interest for Diego Forlan to maintain the bulk of its attack.
But the club hasn't scored in four games and coach Quique Sanchez Flores is facing scrutiny despite guiding the team to Europa League and European Supercup titles last year.
Atletico goalkeeper David De Gea is expected to be available despite hurting his leg with Spain's Under-21 team this week, while midfielder Mario Suarez also returned to training Wednesday.
"We're not enjoying our best season but if we keep fighting we'll move up," De Gea said.
Valencia is unbeaten in eight league matches, with six wins. The club remains a point behind third-place Villarreal for the last direct qualifying place for the Champions League. Whichever club finishes fourth must advance to the group stage from a playoff.
Valencia hopes to have Juanma Mata available as the Spain forward recovers from an ankle injury. Valencia could use Mata in the lineup with a Champions League match against Schalke looming Tuesday.
"Now that they're struggling to get results they are much more dangerous as they'll be out for victory to please their fans," Valencia winger Joaquin Sanchez said ahead of the match at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
Barcelona would like another victory ahead of the first leg of its Champions League date at Arsenal on Wednesday.
The Catalan club has outscored opponents 60-6 and announced it had reached a deal to extend coach Pep Guardiola's contract to next season.
"There's nobody like Pep," Barcelona defender Maxwell said. "We're all happy with him and we try to respond on the field with our work and effort."
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's chase of a league scoring record continues as the pair are even with 24 goals with 16 games to play. Hugo Sanchez holds the record of 38.
Madrid's attack burst back to life in Sunday's 4-0 win over Real Sociedad as Ronaldo scored two and Emmanuel Adebayor added his first league goal.
"It is very easy to work with (coach Jose) Mourinho. He is an excellent person and he enhances my game," Adebayor said. "He has his own way of dealing with people. He tells you what he expects you to do."
Madrid will be looking to hand Espanyol its second straight loss at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium after it won eight of its first nine games at its Barcelona ground. Espanyol has slipped into sixth-place - one point behind Athletic Bilbao, which trails Valencia by six points.
Also, Racing Santander begins its second stint under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral with Saturday's game against Sevilla. Marcelino, who coached the club during the 2007-08 season, replaced the fired Miguel Angel Portugal.
Also, it's: Levante vs. Almeria; Malaga vs. Getafe; Hercules vs. Zaragoza; Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna; Deportivo La Coruna vs. Villarreal; and Mallorca vs. Athletic Bilbao.

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• Report Abuse HeadbuttMaster510
  
  • 2/11/2011 7:43:20 AM
  Who writes these articles? Rainman? Every game is a must win... it's not like teams go into games thinking "hey we don't really need to win today".
  
• Report Abuse SoelaD
  
  • 2/10/2011 3:38:40 PM
  Why do i get the feeling atletico will put 4 pass us
  
• Report Abuse anti-madridista
  
  • 2/10/2011 1:21:53 PM
  Hahaha RealMad, now that I think of it, Quique does look like Hugh Laurie.
  
• Report Abuse Rea1Mad
  
  • 2/10/2011 10:44:32 AM
  Dr. House will be looking for a new job if they don't win.
  

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Barcelona's Puyol likely to miss Arsenal match

Updated Feb 11, 2011 10:10 AM ET
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says defender Carles Puyol is nearly certain to miss the team's Champions League match at Arsenal on Wednesday.
Guardiola says ''that's the feeling I have. But things could change and he could also go.''
Spain defender Puyol has not played since a 3-0 win over Racing Santander on Jan. 22 due to a knee injury. The 32-year-old Puyol is taking part in light training but Guardiola says ''it's going well but when we ask for a little more, it becomes a problem.''
Barcelona travels to Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the last 16 Champions League matchup. The Spanish champion eliminated Arsenal in the quarterfinals last season.




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Valencia's Mestalla to host Copa del Rey final

Updated Feb 11, 2011 9:00 AM ET
MADRID (AP)

Valencia's Mestalla Stadium has been selected to host the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Spanish football federation says the two clubs agreed to play the April 20 match at the 52,000-capacity stadium.
Barcelona is vying for its 26th domestic cup trophy while Madrid is playing for its 18th and first since 1993.
Barcelona won the last meeting against Madrid in 1990, which also came at the Mestalla, 2-0.
The Mestalla has hosted eight finals, including Barcelona's 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in 2009 for its record 25th triumph.
Barcelona plays at Real Madrid in the league four days prior to the final. Two-time defending league champion Barcelona holds a seven point lead over Madrid in the standings.

Ruud remains committed to cause






Updated Feb 11, 2011 5:14 AM ET
Ruud van Nistelrooy insists he remains a "hundred-thousand percent" committed to the Hamburg cause ahead of what could be a pivotal week.
Saturday's clash with Wolfsburg kicks off a busy sequence for Hamburg, with a city derby against St Pauli, rearranged due to heavy rain last weekend, scheduled for next Wednesday.

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They round out next week with another derby against Werder Bremen and Van Nistelrooy has said he can be counted on to give his all after weeks of speculation about his future.
The 34-year-old has announced that he will leave the club when his contract expires in the summer after having his dream return to Real Madrid blocked over the winter.
But he insists he will honour his last league 13 games with the club and do all he can to ensure Hamburg end the season on a high.
"The important thing is what we have now, and we have a really exciting week," Van Nistelrooy said.
"There has been an issue which, in truth, isn't really an issue for me since I had forgotten about Real Madrid a fortnight ago and have been fully focused on HSV.
"I am a hundred-thousand percent committed to HSV and will give all I have got in these three months to have the best possible success here.
"We can still achieve a lot this season. There is a lot of quality in this team and the important thing is the club heads where it wants to go."
Victory over Wolfsburg, who will be coached for the first time by Pierre Littbarski following the dismissal of Steve McClaren earlier in the week, would take Hamburg back into the hunt for a place in Europe next season.
That hunt seems to be reduced to just eight clubs, although after last weekend's results, the league title seems to be heading to only one of them - Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund's draw with Schalke enabled them to extend their lead at the top to 12 points over Bayer Leverkusen, and they travel to struggling Kaiserslautern on Saturday looking to move one step closer to their first title since 2002.
Even Bayern Munich appear to have lost hope of catching them given their 15-point deficit, but a win over Hoffenheim on Saturday is nevertheless essential for them to put the pressure on Leverkusen and third-placed Mainz for a place in the Champions League next season.
Mainz are not in action until Sunday, when they travel to Cologne, while fourth-placed Hannover could also have dropped a position by the time they visit Werder Bremen's Weser Stadion on Sunday.
At the bottom of the table, Michael Frontzeck's job appears to be on the line as Borussia Monchengladbach travel to fellow strugglers St Pauli while Stuttgart will be aiming to finally move out of the bottom three on Saturday when they host Nurnberg.
Schalke also need three points to ensure they do not get dragged back down into danger when they host in-form Freiburg.
Finally, Eintracht Frankfurt welcome Leverkusen to the Waldstadion.

Bayern coach feeling pressure as Hoffenheim visits

16 comments »

Updated Feb 10, 2011 7:39 AM ET
Coach Louis van Gaal is coming under increasing scrutiny from his Bayern Munich bosses ahead of Saturday's visit of Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Defeat at relegation-threatened Cologne, where Bayern threw away a 2-0 halftime lead to lose 3-2, left Bayern in fifth place, 15 points behind runaway leader Borussia Dortmund.
"It is more than annoying; it is careless," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "They must be slowly laughing themselves to death in Dortmund."

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Van Gaal's decision making has been called into question after he allowed his captain, Marc van Bommel, to leave for AC Milan on a free transfer. He has also been playing Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller out of position, with midfielder Anatoliy Tymoschuk laboring in defense.
"The problem is within, not with our opponents," Van Gaal said. "It's our own fault."
Bayern's inconsistent form betrays an unhealthy dependance on Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, both missing for much of the season through injury.
Neither winger started in the loss to Cologne, although Ribery came on as a substitute after recovering from a knee injury.
Robben has recovered from a cold and both players are available for Saturday's game, but Van Gaal hasn't decided whether to start them. Of 52 Bundesliga games since Robben joined the club in 2009, they have started only eight together.
Hoffenheim is seventh, and coming off the back of two successive wins under coach Marco Pezzaiuoli.
Former Hoffenheim midfielder Luiz Gustavo is likely to start against his former team. It was his transfer to Bayern which prompted the departure of Ralf Rangnick, to be replaced by his assistant Pezzaiuoli.
On loan Munich player David Alaba should start for Hoffenheim.
Bayern has the best home record in the Bundesliga, with seven wins and one defeat from 10 games, and will be looking to topscorer Mario Gomez to add to his tally of 16 goals. The striker is fit after recovering from the knee injury which kept him out of Germany's 1-1 draw with Italy on Wednesday.
Following Wolfsburg's sacking of Steve McClaren on Monday, new coach Pierre Littbarski's first game in charge of the 2009 champions is at home to eighth place Hamburger SV.
The 50-year-old's first act was to suspend Diego for the game, after the Brazilian refused to follow McClaren's penalty kick instructions at Hannover last weekend.
Littbarski takes charge until the end of the season, when general manager Dieter Hoeness hopes Rangnick will take over the side currently 12th, one point above the relegation zone.
Also on Saturday, 11th place Schalke hosts Freiburg in sixth; second from bottom Stuttgart hosts ninth place Nuremberg; and Eintracht Frankfurt hosts second place Bayer Leverkusen.
Bottom side Borussia Moenchengladbach travels to St. Pauli for a relegation battle without defender Dante, suspended for a red card in last week's defeat to Stuttgart.
In Saturday's late game, Dortmund travels to Kaiserslautern hoping to make it 11 away wins from 12 games.
On Sunday, third place Mainz travels to Cologne and 13th place Werder Bremen hosts fourth place Hannover.

Stuttgart, Nuremberg fined for fans' behavior

2 comments »

Updated Feb 10, 2011 10:34 AM ET
Bundesliga sides Stuttgart and Nuremberg have been fined 7,000 euros ($9,560) and 2,000 euros ($2,730) respectively by the German football association (DFB) for fan behavior.

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Stuttgart was punished because fans lit firecrackers in games at home to Cologne in November and away at Borussia Dortmund in January.
Nuremberg was fined for a breach of security when a fan ran onto the pitch in the home game against Borussia Moenchengladbach in January.
Both sides have agreed to pay the fines.
Stuttgart host Nuremberg in the Bundesliga Saturday.

Gomez claims Chelsea bid




36 comments »

Updated Feb 9, 2011 1:13 PM ET
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has claimed Chelsea made a £35.7million bid for his services during the January transfer window.
Gomez, who currently tops the Bundesliga scoring charts, was apparently targeted by the Blues as they looked to bolster their strikeforce.

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Carlo Ancelotti's side eventually splashed out a staggering £50million to lure Spain international Fernando Torres to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool.
Chelsea's bid for Gomez was rejected by Bayern and the Germany international claims he was initially kept in the dark over their interest.
But the 25-year-old has admitted that he would not have been tempted by a switch to the Premier League champions and FA Cup holders as he is committed to his career at the Allianz Arena.
"I only found out about the offer after the club had turned it down," Gomez told Sport Bild weekly.
"But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I am already at a top club and I am playing where I always wanted to."
Gomez made a slow start to his career with Bayern following his 30million euros move from Stuttgart in 2009 but has found his feet this term and currently has 16 goals to his name.

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• Report Abuse pYn.0905_1990ca.FCB
  
  • 2/10/2011 3:38:53 PM
  Actually, I think Gomez and Torres are both the same kind of ST. They both have the same mentality and style. Though I think Torres is the better ST, but not by much. I actually think Gomez can be as good, if not better, than Torres. He's improved a lot this season. I hope he continues to preform at the top level. If he continues to improve I can see him on par with Torres come next season. *fingers-crossed*
  
• Report Abuse Dex
  
  • 2/10/2011 2:02:54 PM
  bockrath... Gomez is kind of an enigma. He is not a striker who can create plays for himself however if the ball is on the ground 1 inch or less he has some tremendous ball skills but 1 inch plus off the pitch and its all over not including his headers of course.
  
• Report Abuse BestwasBest
  
  • 2/10/2011 3:35:59 AM
  torres is damaged goods. HIs knee is not the same, his explosion speed is gone and Chelsea just blew it.
  
• Report Abuse bockrath16
  
  • 2/10/2011 1:20:42 AM
  im so confused on gomez, of course he is a goal machine this season and when he is fits but sometimes i feel like hes a horrible player lol.....then he scores a rocket. but right after passes the ball away...gomez??gomez???
  
• Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
  
  • 2/9/2011 7:31:02 PM
  I think that Gomez is only behind Messi, Ronaldo and maybe Berbatov in scoring effiency this season. And I am sure if you went by minutes played he would be number one.
  
• Report Abuse tum
  
  • 2/9/2011 4:47:00 PM
  the link is old i meant
  
• Report Abuse tum
  
  • 2/9/2011 4:45:30 PM
  I think its always a season or 2 after the rankings change. As for the Gomez vs Torres talk, they two different types of forwards altogether. Nuff said. As for Bayern Munich being a smaller club than Chelsea yeah i agree we have 23 players chelsea has what 50? well i checked and they have 24 and 14 out on loan. As for monitarily smaller, well Bayern posts profits every year and posted a turnover of 312 million euros in 2010.
  
  independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/arsenal-overtake-chelsea-in-football-rich-list-1914130.html?action=Gallery&ino=4
  
  The like is a bit old as all the clubs have posted bigger gains. Needless to say Bayern has been a bigger club since its inception that Chelsea. Just the Top 5 clubs in the PL are massively hyped.
  
• Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
  
  • 2/9/2011 3:55:14 PM
  99% sure it doesn't start till 2012 - 2013 season for the four spots.
  
  And Torres and Gomez seem to be going in the opposite direction this season scoring wise, one can't find the net and the other one can't miss it.
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/9/2011 2:19:52 PM
  Yes I think yer right
  
• Report Abuse Dex
  
  • 2/9/2011 1:12:38 PM
  Spider, I dont think its factored in until 2012-2013. I could be wrong but I think thats the way it works.
  

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Stuttgart, Nuremberg fined for fans' behavior

Updated Feb 10, 2011 10:34 AM ET
Bundesliga sides Stuttgart and Nuremberg have been fined 7,000 euros ($9,560) and 2,000 euros ($2,730) respectively by the German football association (DFB) for fan behavior.

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

Stuttgart was punished because fans lit firecrackers in games at home to Cologne in November and away at Borussia Dortmund in January.
Nuremberg was fined for a breach of security when a fan ran onto the pitch in the home game against Borussia Moenchengladbach in January.
Both sides have agreed to pay the fines.
Stuttgart host Nuremberg in the Bundesliga Saturday.

Saint-Etienne prepares to face French rival Lyon

Updated Feb 10, 2011 9:26 AM ET
Saint-Etienne and Lyon will meet for the 101st time in their history on Saturday, and the derby promises to be intense with the rivals level on points in the French league.
Lyon lost at home to Saint-Etienne last September. That 1-0 defeat angered Lyon fans so much they chanted for coach Claude Puel's dismissal as the result left the club hovering above the relegation zone.
But Puel has turned the team's fortunes around, leading Lyon into sixth place. Saint-Etienne is fifth.

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Aside from the pain of losing ground to their rivals, both teams can ill afford to lose as they already trail French leader Lille by seven points. Lille hosts Toulouse on Sunday.
Lyon defender Pape Diakhate, a Saint-Etienne player last season, is suspended for Saturday night's game and is sad to miss out on a visit to Saint-Etienne's compact and noisy Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium.
"When I found I was suspended for the derby, I was very upset," Diakhate said. "There will be an incredible atmosphere inside (the stadium). I'm absolutely devastated not to taking part."
The Senegal center-back's consistent performances were crucial in helping "Les Stephanois" avoid relegation last term.
"I couldn't stay at Saint-Etienne, the option to buy me was too high. That's football," Diakhate said. "I left with good memories and the feeling I got the job done."
But Diakhate's partnership at Lyon with Brazilian defender Cris has yet to properly gel. They both had a poor game in the 2-1 away defeat to Valenciennes two weeks ago that ended Lyon's mini-run of eight games unbeaten in all competitions.
Lyon's progress in its third season under Puel's guidance has rarely been smooth.
His pragmatic work ethic does not seem to suit his most gifted players, particularly France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.
The 24-year-old Gourcuff's form has dipped severely since his ?26.5 million move from Bordeaux. At times, Gourcuff has looked completely lost and seems to have little faith in Puel's rigid methods.
Gourcuff gave an interview last week to a regional newspaper in which he said had been much more comfortable when he played under Laurent Blanc at Bordeaux.
Blanc, now coach of France, led Bordeaux to the league title three seasons ago, with Gourcuff scoring 12 league goals. In 14 league games this season, he has found the net just once so far.
Argentina striker Lisandro Lopez has also struggled recently and has not scored in his last five games - perhaps understandably seeing as Puel has been playing him out wide as a left-winger.
Saint-Etienne has won its last two games and seems to have rediscovered the attacking flair that helped it briefly move top of the French league after it beat Lyon on Sept. 25.
Coach Christophe Galtier's team held first place for another week but then gradually slipped down the table and by December Saint-Etienne was down in 11th spot and fans were secretly fearing another relegation scrap.
But key players have since come back into form.
Highly-rated striker Emmanuel Riviere scored twice in last weekend's 2-1 win at Montpellier, and winger Bakary Sako got both goals the previous week in the 2-1 home win against Toulouse.
Lille, meanwhile, has a comfortable five-point lead. But Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes are both chasing hard and also have home matches this weekend. PSG plays Lens on Saturday, and Rennes faces Nice on Sunday.
A point behind those two teams in fourth place is Marseille, which is away to Sochaux on Saturday.
In Saturday's other games, it is: Arles-Avignon vs. Marseille; Bordeaux vs. Caen; Monaco vs. Lorient, and Nancy vs. Auxerre. Valenciennes hosts Brest in Sunday's other game.

Sneijder happier after Rafa exit




2 comments »

Updated Feb 11, 2011 8:58 AM ET
Wesley Sneijder admits he is much happier under new Inter Milan boss Leonardo than he was when Rafael Benitez was in charge at the San Siro.

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Benitez was sacked in December after failing to build on the success of his predecessor Jose Mourinho and Holland playmaker Sneijder believes morale at the club has improved as a result.
He told AD Sportwereld: "I feel better now, more comfortable in my own skin on the field.
"And I would be lying if I said the change in coach had nothing to do with it.
"The new coach, Leonardo, works much more like Mourinho. Everyone feels a lot better with him."
Results have also improved under Leonardo with Inter moving to within five points of Serie A leaders AC Milan with a game in hand.

Juventus out to halt Inter Milan's run in Serie A

2 comments »

Updated Feb 10, 2011 7:45 AM ET
With only one loss since Leonardo took over as coach from Rafa Benitez at the end of last year, Inter Milan will be looking to maintain its form Sunday when it faces Juventus in Serie A.
The Champions League title holders have moved up to third place in the league while Juventus, which won at Cagliari last week and is in eighth place, is also on the upswing.
"We have to continue the improvement we showed at Cagliari against a very confident Inter side," Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said. "Winning would give us a huge confidence boost, especially because we would be taking points from a direct rival.

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"It is a massively important game for us, both for our place in the standings and for our fans. We are hopeful of having a good February to make up for the problems and bad luck we had the start of the year."
The only loss Inter has under Leonardo was a 3-1 setback against Udinese, but since then the Brazilian has been able to reinforce his side by signing Giampaolo Pazzini, Houssine Kharja, Andrea Ranocchia and Yuto Nagamoto.
Pazzini made an immediate impact by scoring two goals in three games, while Kharja weighed in with his first in an Inter shirt by netting the opener in the 3-0 win over Bari.
"We are delighted with how we've done since Leonardo arrived," Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar said. "We are on the right path and we have to keep on in this direction. Pazzini, Kharja and Nagamoto are excellent purchases and since they arrived they've done very well."
Also, league leader AC Milan hosts Parma at the San Siro after four draws in its last seven matches.
Despite not winning in its last two games, Milan is unbeaten in seven, leads by three points and has the best defensive record in the league.
"We're first in the league and intend to stay there until the end of the season," Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati said. "This is the right mentality to have.
"At the start of the season teams were hitting us on the counterattack, but then we got ourselves organized and if we don't concede any goals, sooner or later we will score."
Second-place Napoli faces a big test against AS Roma, which is smarting from a 5-3 loss to Inter last week.
"We know it is an important game and if we get a point there it will be another sign of the growth of this team," Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro said. "(Jeremy) Menez is very quick and is good at beating his man and we can't forget about (Francesco) Totti, who is a fantastic player.
"It is true that we are starting a run of big games, but we will continue to take things match-by-match and we will treat the game with Roma like a final."
Also, it's: Palermo vs. Fiorentina; Bari vs. Genoa; Brescia vs. Lazio; Cagliari vs. Chievo Verona; Catania vs. Lecce; Cesena vs. Udinese; and Sampdoria vs. Bologna

Abate: Milan the ones to catch




9 comments »

Updated Feb 10, 2011 9:35 AM ET
AC Milan full-back Ignazio Abate has warned the Serie A chasing pack they are still the team to beat.
The Rossoneri have seen their momentum slip somewhat of late with four draws in their last six matches, and their lead over second-placed Napoli is now just three points.

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However, Abate told the club's official website: "We knew that it would be a long and tough season but I feel we are doing well.
"We have to look at the positives and when the other teams go through a bad period they tend to lose more often.
"We are still the league leaders and it is up to the others not to slip up if they want to catch us."
Abate has missed the last three Serie A matches through injury but is now back in training and could feature against Parma on Saturday.
"I am feeling better," he said. "I have been training for three or four days and I can now feel the strength coming back in my legs.
"I will look to improve my strength bit by bit every day."

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• Report Abuse Mariodinho
  
  • 2/10/2011 3:53:03 PM
  I agree Spider, but we really shouldn't be all that suprised. Unless it's the EPL or Madrid or Barca that's somehow involved, Fox could care less.... Nothing new here.
  
• Report Abuse turiddhu
  
  • 2/10/2011 1:59:42 PM
  i don't think abate said this. what kind of statement is "milan is the ones to catch"? last i looked milan was in first place ,naturally is the one to catch! do you even need to say it? does it make sense?
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/10/2011 12:02:25 PM
  Derby day shaping up to be a crucial day...its to bad Fox soccer doesn't hype up the big Serie A games. I mean Inter-Roma was actually more compelling than Chelsea-Liverpool form a purely aesthetic standpoint
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/10/2011 12:02:25 PM
  Derby day shaping up to be a crucial day...its to bad Fox soccer doesn't hype up the big Serie A games. I mean Inter-Roma was actually more compelling than Chelsea-Liverpool form a purely aesthetic standpoint
  
• Report Abuse marcbarca
  
  • 2/10/2011 12:00:19 PM
  Milan fans getting nervous for sure. Many dropped points in a row with Inter finding their stride. Now Sneijder is back for the first time this season. And when Wesley plays, Inter are so much more dangerous. YES!
  
• Report Abuse PMaldini333
  
  • 2/10/2011 11:59:30 AM
  Spider, yep, I know...very common in the news media. Hey "if it bleeds, it leads"
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/10/2011 11:47:03 AM
  spin spin saladin!
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/10/2011 11:46:50 AM
  PMaldini----it's the good ole Fox soccer creative headlining at work
  
• Report Abuse PMaldini333
  
  • 2/10/2011 11:35:38 AM
  this is article is ridiculous...Abate didn't "warn" anyone. he merely said Milan are the league leaders and are still the team to catch....there is absolutlely nothing controversial in that statement......on another note, we are getting healthier and healthier. there are only 3 players confirmed out at this point....Ambrosini, Zambrotta, and Inzaghi....FORZA MILAN
  

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Estudiantes' problems clear way for Boca

Updated Feb 10, 2011 11:40 AM ET
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)

Almost everyone is expecting Boca Juniors to come out of its three-year slumber and win the Argentina Clausura tournament when the season starts Friday.
Boca's chances were further enhanced last week when Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella, who led the team to the Apertura title in December, suddenly left the club in a huff, upset that officials had not made key offseason signings.
Estudiantes appointed Eduardo Berizzo as a replacement a few days ago, but this is his first job as a head coach.
All of which seems to open the door for Boca, which has a new experienced coach after Julio Cesar Falcioni joined in the offseason from Banfield. He has brought in two new forwards - Walter Erviti and Leando Somoza - to add to veteran forward Martin Palermo and midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.
''We've very hopeful about the start of the season and what we can do,'' said Falconi, who is trying to bring Boca its first league title since 2008. ''We hope this is the start of a good chapter for Boca.''
With more players increasingly leaving the country, the Argentine league is tough to predict. However, Palermo and Estudiantes captain Juan Sebastian Veron - both 37 - are among the league's veteran player, a list that has grown with the addition of two dozen veterans returning home after stints abroad.
Among them is former Italy international Mauro Camoranesi, who was born in Argentina. He joins Lanus after a decade in Mexico, Italy and most recently with Stuttgart in Germany. Another is Argentine-born Guillermo Franco, a former Mexico international who has joined Velez.
La Plata club Gimnasia has added veteran Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who returns after several seasons in the United States.
Estudiantes is in a tough spot. Berizzo, whose last job was as an assistant to Marcelo Bielsa for the Chile national team, will be blamed if his club doesn't successfully defend its title, a rare feat in Argentina. The team is also spoiled by recent success, including the 2009 Copa Libertadores title - the South American equivalent of Europe's Champions League.
''It happens that I am beginning my career with a very important club, and I hope I am up to it,'' Berizzo said, adding that Bielsa ''has an influence over me. I was his assistant and I learned how he thinks from the inside.''
While Boca seems to be on the up, fierce rival River Plate could be headed the other way.
River finished fourth in the Apertura season, moving out of relegation danger. Relegation in Argentina is based on results over three years. However, the club has made only one signing - forward Fabian Bordagaray - and has ceded team idol Ariel Ortega to All Boys. Ortega skipped an early practice and was shown the door by coach Juan Jose Lopez and club president Daniel Passarella.
''River has a team with many young players,'' captain Matias Almeyda said. ''With time they will bring the club some joy, but for now we'll have to suck it up and compete.
''With the millions Boca has spent, it's the favorite.''
Boca and River are two of what is known as the ''Big Five'' in Argentine football.
Of the remaining three, Racing could have the best shot at the title. The team is led by Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno, who has adapted well to the Argentine game.
Another Big Five club is Independiente, which won the 2010 Copa Sudameriana and is likely to devote most of its energy to the Copa Libertadores. It is one five Argentine clubs in the competition.
The final Big Five member is San Lorenzo, which has beefed up by signing Giancarlo Carmona of Peru and Nelson Benitez of Paraguay.
The schedule for the opening round begins with Friday's match between Estudiantes and Newell's Old Boys. The rest of the schedule is: Independiente vs. Velez; Olimpo vs. Banfield; San Lorenzo vs. Gimnasia; Colon vs. Quilmes; All Boys vs. Racing; Boca vs. Godoy Cruz; Tigre vs. River Plate; Lanus vs. Arsenal; and Huracan vs. Argentinos.

Juventus out to halt Inter Milan's run in Serie A

Updated Feb 10, 2011 7:45 AM ET
With only one loss since Leonardo took over as coach from Rafa Benitez at the end of last year, Inter Milan will be looking to maintain its form Sunday when it faces Juventus in Serie A.
The Champions League title holders have moved up to third place in the league while Juventus, which won at Cagliari last week and is in eighth place, is also on the upswing.
"We have to continue the improvement we showed at Cagliari against a very confident Inter side," Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said. "Winning would give us a huge confidence boost, especially because we would be taking points from a direct rival.

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"It is a massively important game for us, both for our place in the standings and for our fans. We are hopeful of having a good February to make up for the problems and bad luck we had the start of the year."
The only loss Inter has under Leonardo was a 3-1 setback against Udinese, but since then the Brazilian has been able to reinforce his side by signing Giampaolo Pazzini, Houssine Kharja, Andrea Ranocchia and Yuto Nagamoto.
Pazzini made an immediate impact by scoring two goals in three games, while Kharja weighed in with his first in an Inter shirt by netting the opener in the 3-0 win over Bari.
"We are delighted with how we've done since Leonardo arrived," Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar said. "We are on the right path and we have to keep on in this direction. Pazzini, Kharja and Nagamoto are excellent purchases and since they arrived they've done very well."
Also, league leader AC Milan hosts Parma at the San Siro after four draws in its last seven matches.
Despite not winning in its last two games, Milan is unbeaten in seven, leads by three points and has the best defensive record in the league.
"We're first in the league and intend to stay there until the end of the season," Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati said. "This is the right mentality to have.
"At the start of the season teams were hitting us on the counterattack, but then we got ourselves organized and if we don't concede any goals, sooner or later we will score."
Second-place Napoli faces a big test against AS Roma, which is smarting from a 5-3 loss to Inter last week.
"We know it is an important game and if we get a point there it will be another sign of the growth of this team," Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro said. "(Jeremy) Menez is very quick and is good at beating his man and we can't forget about (Francesco) Totti, who is a fantastic player.
"It is true that we are starting a run of big games, but we will continue to take things match-by-match and we will treat the game with Roma like a final."
Also, it's: Palermo vs. Fiorentina; Bari vs. Genoa; Brescia vs. Lazio; Cagliari vs. Chievo Verona; Catania vs. Lecce; Cesena vs. Udinese; and Sampdoria vs. Bologna.

Rangers, Celtic draw 2-2 in Scottish Cup

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Updated Feb 6, 2011 10:01 AM ET
Scott Brown kept Celtic in the Scottish Cup on Sunday by securing a 2-2 draw against Glasgow rival Rangers in a fifth-round match that both teams finished with 10 men.

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Rangers led twice, with 19-year-old midfielder Jamie Ness netting his first goal for the club after just three minutes.
Kris Commons leveled from Joe Ledley's cutback, but Steven Whittaker restored Rangers' lead from the penalty spot in the 41st after goalkeeper Fraser Forster was sent off for a foul on Steven Naismith.
With 10 men, Brown curled in Celtic's second equalizer in the 65th.
Naismith was also dismissed in the 76th when the Rangers defender was shown a second yellow card after being adjudged to have dived in the penalty area.

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• Report Abuse scottish-southerner
  
  • 2/7/2011 11:51:03 AM
  Absolutely agree with you "yid"..... My team shouldve put that away for the 40 or so minutes that you guys were down to 10 men. Ridiculous performance yet again. Celtic's to lose at Parkhead now!!!
  
• Report Abuse irishyid
  
  • 2/6/2011 3:57:05 PM
  Well done Bhoys.
  

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Scottish Cup Roundup, Feb. 5



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Updated Feb 5, 2011 6:06 PM ET
Holders Dundee United advanced to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup as they saw off Hamilton 3-1 at New Douglas Park on Saturday.
Goals from Jon Daly, Paul Dixon and Prince Buaben secured a comfortable win for the Tayside club, with Mickael Antoine-Curier's goal proving to be little more than scant consolation for Accies.

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United had been forced to scrape past Ross County on penalties in the last round but never really looked in danger.
Steve Jones and John Sutton scored late in each half as Motherwell beat Stranraer 2-0 to progress.
Jones scrambled the ball over the line in first-half stoppage time after Motherwell had survived a decent spell of pressure.
The visitors were comfortable after the interval and Sutton removed any doubts over the outcome when he netted from close range.
Craig Dargo's first-half double against Irn-Bru Second Division side Ayr United at Somerset Park proved enough to book St Mirren a place in to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win.
The SPL club looked to be on easy street after Dargo's breakaway goal seconds before the interval added to his seventh-minute opener.
Saints missed several chances to clinch the tie - and Dargo should have had a hat-trick - before a Mark Roberts' penalty in the 57th minute led to what had at one point looked like an unlikely fightback.
However, the part-timers ran out of steam at the end although Danny Lennon and his St Mirren players were glad to survive to take their place in Sunday's draw.
Doubles from Adam Rooney and Richie Foran helped Inverness Caledonian Thistle cruise into the last eight with a 5-1 demolition of Morton.

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The SPL side produced a dominant performance at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium with their Scottish First Division opponents showing little resistence.
Inverness captain Foran opened the scoring in 19 minutes with a 12-yard low drive and Rooney's shot from the edge of the area doubled the lead seven minutes before the interval.
Chris Hogg headed home from the edge of the area in 62 minutes before Rooney nodded in from close range three minutes later. Derek Lyle notched a consolation on 83 minutes but Foran completed the scoring two minutes later.
Brechin are also through after they won 2-0 at Buckie Thistle thanks to goals from David McKenna and Rory McAllister.
The day's other clash between St Johnstone and Partick Thistle was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The match has been rescheduled for Tuesday night with a 7.45pm kick-off.