Marseille suffer Coupe de France

Marseille suffer Coupe de France giant-killing defeat by progressive Grenoble

 January 5, 2015   John Welsh

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The first weekend of 2015 witnessed cup action in both England and France as the FA Cup and Coupe de France both entered the last 64 team stage with several lower tier teams keen to create giant-killing acts against their more illustrious rivals. Most of the Premier League teams escaped serious embarrassment but Ligue 1 […]

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English football

Christmas fixture congestion divides opinion in English football

 December 30, 2014   John Welsh

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Of the 20 Premier League teams playing football during the Christmas festive period, only Liverpool an Swansea were spared the necessity to be performing on both the 26th and 28th December as their encounter was delayed until the 29th for television coverage. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet claimed that the decision to play two games in […]

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UEFA Champions League

Football Fans’ Speculations Begin as UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 Draw Are Announced

 December 23, 2014   R K Gupta

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The beauty of UEFA Champions League is inherent in expectations. The die-hard football fans think far ahead into future and they just don’t mind waiting for months and months on end. Apart from World Cup Finals that take place every four years, UEFA Champions League final, every year, is also awaited like a baby to […]

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Lyon Ligue 1 title contenders

Lyon emerging as Ligue 1 title contenders after early season difficulties

 December 20, 2014   John Welsh

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With the winter break set to begin in several European football leagues following the weekend fixtures before Christmas, the situation at the top of Ligue 1 in France is much closer than in previous seasons under Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) domination. Without the distraction of a European campaign this term, Marseille are offering a genuine challenge […]

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Shakhtar Donetsk

Brazilian boys help Shakhtar Donetsk to progress in Champions League

 December 11, 2014   John Welsh

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After the conclusion of the group matches in the 2014-15 Champions League competition, it is apparent that the Western European football teams are dominating once again to the detriment of their Eastern counterparts. Four qualifying teams from Germany plus three apiece from Spain and England underline the strength of the Premier League, Bundesliga and La […]

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Bayern Munich

Improving Augsburg could test Bayern Munich in Bavarian derby

 December 9, 2014   John Welsh

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Unbeaten Bayern Munich may lead the German Bundesliga by seven points after fourteen games of the current campaign but the surprise team of the season to date are Augsburg occupying third position. They have won four successive games in addition to winning five consecutive league contests in their home stadium and they host Bayern in […]

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Manchester United season 2014

Contrasting fortunes for Leicester and Manchester United since 5-3 encounter

 December 4, 2014   John Welsh

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When Leicester City beat Manchester United 5-3 in a Premier League match back in mid-September, it was claimed that Leicester had served notice that they would be difficult team to beat in the top flight and another troubled season was awaiting Louis Van Gaal’s squad. Leonardo Ulloa netted twice that day for City to add […]

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Paul Georges Ntep

Ntep at Rennes is a rising star of French football

 December 2, 2014   John Welsh

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At a time when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are earning plaudits for their goal scoring exploits and the top football teams in Europe are cementing their places in the knockout phase of the Champions League, one emerging Cameroon born player is beginning to emerge as potential star of the future. Paul-Georges Ntep (de Madiba) […]

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Raheem Liverpool

Liverpool flaws now being exposed by lack of cutting edge in attack

 November 27, 2014   John Welsh

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers may have been satisfied with a 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening in a Champions League tie at Ludogorets Razgrad as his team now only needs to beat FC Basel at Anfield to qualify for the knockout phase. However, the contest was symptomatic of a season in which the Reds have failed […]

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Manchester City chamipions league 2014

Late Champions League drama offers Manchester City a lifeline

 November 26, 2014   John Welsh

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It has often been quoted that fine margins can settle the outcome of football matches and tournaments with Tuesday evenings contests in Champions League Group E proving no exception. Bayern Munich had already clinched the group ahead of the fifth set of matches with CSKA Moscow, Roma and Manchester City vying for the second qualifying […]

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