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Sunday, May 6, 2012

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao players failed to score for the second straight game to register their seventh home draw following the match against Getafe. Atletico Madrid Adrian Lopez scored his 7th La Liga goal of the season as Atletico Madrid registered their 11th home victory following the match against Malaga. Barcelona Lionel Messi scored his 50th La Liga goal of the season as Barcelona registered their 17th home victory following the match against Espanyol. Espanyol Lionel Messi scored his 50th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Espanyol to their 10th away defeat following the match against Barcelona. Getafe Getafe players failed to score for the second time in five games to register their fifth away draw following the match against Athletic Bilbao. Granada Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 45th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Granada to their 6th home defeat following the visit of Real Madrid. Levante Tomas Pina scored his first La Liga goal of the season to condemned Levante to their tenth away defeat following the match against Mallorca. Malaga Adrian Lopez scored his 7th La Liga goal of the campaign to condemned Malaga to their 11th away defeat following the match against Atletico. Osasuna Ibrahima Balde scored his sixth La Liga goal of the season as Osasuna registered their tenth home victory following the match against Sociedad. Racing Santander Angel Lafita scored his third La Liga goal of the season to condemned Racing to their tenth away defeat following the match against Zaragoza. Rayo Vallecano Juan Torres Ruiz scored his 4th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Rayo to their 11th away defeat following the match against Sevilla. Real Betis Gaston Sangoy scored his 4th La Liga goal of the campaign to condemned Betis to their 12th away defeat following the match against Sporting. Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 45th La Liga goal of the season as Real Madrid registered their 16th away win following the match against Granada. Real Mallorca Tomas Pina scored his first La Liga goal of the season as Real Mallorca registered their ninth home victory following the match against Levante. Real Sociedad Ibrahima Balde scored his 6th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Sociedad to their 11th away defeat following the match against Osasuna. Real Zaragoza Angel Lafita scored his third La Liga goal of the season as Zaragoza registered their eighth home victory following the match against Racing. Sevilla Juan Torres Ruiz scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season as Sevilla registered their ninth home victory following the match against Rayo. Sporting Gijon Gaston Sangoy scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season as Sporting registered their seventh home win following the match against Betis. Valencia Jonas Goncalves scored his 10th La Liga goal of the season as Valencia registered their 11th home win following the match against Villarreal. Villarreal Jonas Goncalves scored his 10th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Villarreal to their 12th away defeat following the match at Valencia.

Serie A

AC Milan AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is 99 per cent sure the Rossoneri will win the Scudetto if they can beat an aggressive Inter side on Sunday. AS Roma Francesco Totti scored his eighth Serie A goal of the season as AS Roma registered their fifth home draw following the match against Catania. Atalanta Atalanta head coach Stefano Colantuono has revealed that goalkeeper Andrea Consigli is dropped for the Lazio clash due to a shoulder problem. Bologna AC Milan-owned striker Davide Di Gennaro seems unlikely to stay with Modena next season with Chievo and Bologna reportedly keen to sign him. Cagliari Cagliari defender Lorenzo Ariaudo is pleased to have avoided the relegation, but has vowed that his side will go for the win against Juventus. Catania Giovanni Marchese scored his third Serie A goal of the season as Catania registered their tenth away draw following the match against Roma. Cesena Cesena coach Mario Beretta is pleased that the club have launched so many youngster on the big stage this season, despite their relegation. Chievo AC Milan-owned striker Davide Di Gennaro seems unlikely to stay with Modena next season with Chievo and Bologna reportedly keen to sign him. Fiorentina Alessio Cerci scored his fifth Serie A goal of the season as Fiorentina registered their fourth away win following the match against Lecce. Genoa Eugenio Lamanna's agent admits he is unsure where the goalkeeper will be next season as talks between Genoa and Bari have come a deadlock. Inter Milan Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni believes he will be judged by his overall performance for the Nerazzurri rather than just the Milan derby. Juventus Coach Antonio Conte insists the parallels with May 5 2002 are more inspiring than frightening as Juventus continue to battle for the Scudetto. Lazio Lazio are hoping to bolster their veteran strike force in the summer by snapping up Dimitar Berbatov for just EUR5 million from Manchester Utd. Lecce Alessio Cerci scored his fifth Serie A goal of the season to condemned Lecce to their tenth home defeat following the match against Fiorentina. Napoli Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has no qualms about dropping Ezequiel Lavezzi again for the Bologna clash as he is currently not the first choice. Novara There is still a probability that Novara could avoid relegation should any club involved in the match-fixing scandal suffer point deduction. Palermo It was claimed that Palermo may have poached coach Giuseppe Sannino from Siena after signing the Robur's sporting director Giorgio Perinetti. Parma Coach Roberto Donadoni advises Sebastian Giovinco to stick with Parma and learn the difference between a good player and a world class one. Siena It was claimed that Palermo may have poached coach Giuseppe Sannino from Siena after signing the Robur's sporting director Giorgio Perinetti. Udinese Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin insists he is not playing mind games with Napoli, but believes the Partenopei are favourites for third place.

EPL

Arsenal Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that his side produced a weak defensive display against Norwich after being held to a draw at home. Aston Villa Defender Richard Dunne has called on Aston Villa's supporters to unite behind the team and not protest against manager Alex McLeish on Sunday. Blackburn Steve Kean is counting on the support of Blackburn's fans ahead of what he is describing as one of the biggest games at Ewood Park in years. Bolton Owen Coyle is not convinced Bolton's chances of overcoming West Brom have been boosted by Roy Hodgson's appointment as the new England manager. Chelsea Following the FA Cup final win, Roberto Di Matteo has hailed his players who have responded wonderfully well since he took charge in March. Everton David Moyes is determined to keep all his best players at Everton this summer and insists Phil Neville still has a lot to offer on the pitch. Fulham Martin Jol thinks Fulham could smash their record Premier League points total this season as he targets two wins over Sunderland and Tottenham. Liverpool Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has blamed his side poor defensive performance in the first hour for their FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea. Manchester City Manchester City's unsung hero Pablo Zabaleta has said his team-mates need no added incentive to secure a crucial victory at Newcastle on Sunday. Manchester United Lazio are hoping to bolster their veteran strike force in the summer by snapping up Dimitar Berbatov for just EUR5 million from Manchester Utd. Newcastle United Coach Alan Pardew has warned Manchester City that Newcastle are ready to stall their Premier League title charge at St James' Park on Sunday. Norwich City Norwich coach Paul Lambert has hailed hi sisde for securing a 'monumental' result at Arsenal but claims they were denied a definite penalty. Queens Park Rangers Coach Mark Hughes knows QPR need all three points from the huge game with Stoke if they are to keep their Premier League survival hopes alive. Stoke City Coach Tony Pulis has promised QPR and Bolton's fellow strugglers there will be plenty of fight shown by his Stoke side in their final two games. Sunderland Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole is targeting a strong finish to the season and admits Martin O'Neill has brought a lot of life to the club. Swansea City Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Manchester United they face a 'dangerous' opponent when his side travel to Old Trafford on Sunday. Tottenham Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has criticised the FA for allowing speculation about the England manager's job rumble on for almost three months. West Brom Keith Downing insists West Brom still have targets to achieve this season as they start to prepare for when Roy Hodgson leaves the Baggies. Wigan Athletic Manager Roberto Martinez insists Wigan are not going to depend on others for results as his side prepare for their clash against Blackburn. Wolverhampton Captain Karl Henry has challenged relegated Wolves to beat Everton after admitting their form at Molineux this season has been 'atrocious'.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger admits he will seek to move some of Arsenal's strikers out of the club in the summer in order to give them more play time. Aston Villa Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish says Fabian Delph, Chris Herd and James Collins' behaviour in an incident at a nightclub is a 'slur on the club'. Blackburn Blackburn Rovers are hoping that Martin Olsson will be available for the clash with Wigan at Ewood Park after missing the last three games. Bolton Bolton star Lee Chung-yong is set to feature for Wanderers' reserves as he continues his recovery from the broken leg he suffered last summer. Chelsea Frank Lampard says Chelsea's resurgence under Roberto Di Matteo will mean nothing if they lose both the FA Cup and Champions League finals. Everton Everton manager David Moyes says his only motivation for the remainder of the season is finishing as high as possible in the Premier League. Fulham Martin Jol has dismissed rumours linking Clint Dempsey with a move to Liverpool and remains hopeful the Fulham hitman will sign a new contract. Liverpool Boss Kenny Dalglish admits there is plenty of nervous tension inside the Liverpool camp as they ready themselves for an FA Cup final showdown. Manchester City Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has praised Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, but has played down talk of a summer swoop for the Wales star. Manchester United Benfica playmaker Nicolas Gaitan would welcome the opportunity to discuss a summer switch to Manchester United, according to his representative. Newcastle United Manager Alan Pardew has played down Newcastle's chances of securing Champions League football, believing they are the outsiders in the race. Norwich City Paul Lambert is looking for Norwich to end the 2011-12 campaign on a high and provide a fitting ending to what has been a 'fairytale' season. Queens Park Rangers QPR boss Mark Hughes is a 'little disappointed' that the FA chose to appoint Roy Hodgson as England boss in the midst of the relegation run-in. Stoke City Stoke City head coach Tony Pulis has accepted Cameron Jerome's claims that the striker has not been given enough opportunities this season. Sunderland Martin O'Neill has reiterated his intention to keep the likes of Stephane Sessegnon at Sunderland as he plots forward progress for the club. Swansea City Brendan Rodgers has accused Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini of being disrespectful to Swansea as they prepare to face Manchester United. Tottenham Harry Redknapp believes it would be impossible for him to replace Luka Modric and has called on Spurs to do all they can to retain his services. West Brom Roy Hodgson has been backed to deal with the egos in the England squad and improve their quality by his West Brom number two Keith Downing. Wigan Athletic Roberto Martinez welcomes the praise he and his players are receiving but admits it will count for nothing if Wigan do not finish the job. Wolverhampton Coach Terry Connor has challenged Wolves to end a disastrous campaign on a high to make sure fans and the club feel ready for next season.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Coach Marcelo Bielsa is not in the least bit concerned about his Bilbao side freezing in their upcoming Copa del Rey and Europa League finals. Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo believes it is important for Atletico to win a title this season and that Simeone will coach their team next season. Barcelona Malaga have contacted Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita about a summer switch to La Rosaleda and are willing to pay EUR10 million for the move. Espanyol Espanyol are keen to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat when they take on Barcelona, who have conceded only 11 goals at home this season. Getafe Getafe are hoping to avoid their third defeat in five games when they take on Bilbao, who are determined to register their ninth home victory. Granada Granada are hoping to avoid their third defeat in five games when they take on Real Madrid, who are keen to register their 16th away victory. Levante Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez said that he will not doubt the words of Arouna Kone about his injury, but hopes he will play next week. Malaga Malaga have contacted Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita about a summer switch to La Rosaleda and are willing to pay EUR10 million for the move. Osasuna Osasuna president Patxi Izco announced that he is leaving after 10 years at the helm, believing that his cycle at the club has come to an end. Racing Santander Racing are hoping to avoid their third defeat in five games when they take on Real Zaragoza, who are looking for their eighth home victory. Rayo Vallecano Rayo Vallecano are desperate to avoid their sixth straight defeat when they take on Sevilla, who are looking to register their ninth home win. Real Betis Real Betis are looking to register their second consecutive win when they take on Sporting, who are hoping to avoid their ninth home defeat. Real Madrid Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka has revealed the club are desperate to hold on to striker Gonzalo Higuain, who is tipped to leave. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca are keen to register their fourth straight victory when they take on Levante, who have suffered nine away defeat this season. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad are looking to pick up points for the eighth straight game when they take on Osasuna, who have suffered only three home defeats. Real Zaragoza Real Zaragoza are keen to register their third consecutive victory when they take on Racing, who are hoping to avoid their tenth away defeat. Sevilla Sevilla coach Michel has included Ivan Rakitic and David Omar in his squad to face Rayo, after playing down the fight between the both players. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon are hoping to register their third win in five games when they take on Real Betis, who have dropped 35 points away from home. Valencia Valencia star midfielder Dani Parejo has appologised for failing an alcohol test and has promised that he will never repeat the mistake again. Villarreal Villarreal are keen to pick up points for the sixth straight game when they take on Valencia, who have suffered four home defeat this season.

Serie A

AC Milan Kevin-Prince Boateng would love a goal in the Milan derby and insists they deserve the Scudetto, despite the fact Juventus had a good season. AS Roma AS Roma coach Luis Enrique is refusing to confirm his summer exit from the club, insisting that Europa League qualification is what matters. Atalanta Atalanta are keen to register their third win in five games when they take on Lazio, who have dropped 31 points away from home this season. Bologna Striker Marco Di Vaio has confirmed that he will be leaving Bologna for Montreal Impact at the end of the season after four years at the club. Cagliari Cagliari president Massimo Cellino has hit out at the Lega Calcio and Juventus for rearranging their Week 37 tie without consulting his club. Catania Catania manager Vincenzo Montella insists the campaign will be one to remember even if his side lose their final games to Roma and Udinese. Cesena Cesena are hoping to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat when they take on Novara, who have registered eight draws at home this campaign. Chievo Chievo are hoping to register their first victory in six fixtures when they take on Palermo, who are keen to avoid their seventh home defeat. Fiorentina Vincenzo Guerini admits he could not turn down Fiorentina's request to revive his coaching career, but it would not go beyond this season. Genoa Genoa are determined to register their second straight victory when they take on Udinese, who have dropped only 12 points at home this season. Inter Milan Inter's Dejan Stankovic will undergo the knife to correct a Achilles tendon injury, therefore ruling him out of the remainder of the season. Juventus Bad news for Juventus coach Antonio Conte as defender Paolo De Ceglie is out for the matches against Cagliari and Atalanta with a thigh strain. Lazio Stefano Mauri has promised that Lazio will do their absolute best in the final stages of the race for Champions League qualification this term. Lecce Lecce are determined to register their first win in five games when they take on Fiorentina, who are keen to avoid their tenth away defeat. Napoli Edinson Cavani wants Napoli to secure the Champions League qualification and the Coppa Italia to pay back the support their fans have shown. Novara Novara are looking for their second win in five games when they take on Cesena, who have scored only nine goals away from home this season. Palermo Palermo are not worried if Emiliano Viviano returns to Inter at the end of the season as Samir Ujkani has proven to be a good replacement. Parma Parma striker Sebastian Giovinco has admitted that he does not know where he will be playing next season as it depends on a lot of situations. Siena Siena are hoping to register their first win in four games when they take on Parma, who have dropped 36 points away from home this season. Udinese Udinese are keen to register their third straight win when they take on Genoa, who are desperate to avoid their 14th away defeat this season.

Friday, May 4, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Robin van Persie is looking forward to playing alongside Lukas Podolski and feels he possesses the right attitude to be a success at Arsenal. Aston Villa Eric Lichaj believes he has the attributes to control the threat of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, when Aston Villa face Spurs this weekend. Blackburn Coach Steve Kean has dismissed reports that he was confronted by an angry fan who had broken into Blackburn's training ground as laughable. Bolton Bolton coach Owen Coyle has told his players they need to show character and bravery in their final two games, if they are to avoid the drop. Chelsea Petr Cech believes Chelsea's chances of finishing fourth are probably over after they lost to Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. Everton It was reported that Everton are considering a move for Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Fulham Pavel Pogrebnyak has sought to end any uncertainty about his long-term future by confirming his intention to agree a new contract at Fulham. Liverpool It was claimed that Olympique Lyonnais defender Dejan Lovren has been made a target for Liverpool, following his strong showing this season. Manchester City Juventus have told the agent of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, that the club are not interested in signing the Italy international. Manchester United Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits it will be 'impossible' to catch Manchester City if they win convincingly at Newcastle United. Newcastle United Jonas Gutierrez hailed Newcastle Utd's win at Chelsea and believes the club are still in a good position to qualify for the Champions League. Norwich City It was reported that Wigan, Sunderland and Everton are keen on Norwich defender Zak Whitbread, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Queens Park Rangers QPR boss Mark Hughes wants his players to keep their composure in the final two games, but insists their poor disciplinary record is undeserved. Stoke City Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has insisted he would like Jermaine Pennant to stay at the Britannia Stadium for the remainder of his contract. Sunderland It was reported that Sunderland are considering a move for Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Swansea City Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Brendan Rodgers for sticking to his principles and believes he should be considered for manager of the year award. Tottenham Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has hailed Harry Redknapp as a special manager and hopes he remains at Tottenham as long as possible. West Brom Chris Brunt hopes West Brom can finish the season strongly and get in the top 10 before coach Roy Hodgson leaves to concentrate on England. Wigan Athletic It was reported that Wigan are considering a move for Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Wolverhampton Steven Mouyokolo has returned to Wolves from his loan spell at Sochaux and could yet have a future at Molineux, according to boss Terry Connor.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa said the sending-off made everything much more difficult, but admitted Real Madrid deserved the victory. Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone said Atletico players were devastated to draw with Sociedad, but insisted they will not give up on their Champions League dream. Barcelona Ajax coach Frank de Boer has stated that departing captain Jan Vertonghen should shun Premier League advances in favour of a move to Barcelona. Espanyol Espanyol keeper Cristian Alvarez said the team have tried their best and are disappointed at missing a place in next season's Europa League. Getafe Getafe midfielder Michel is delighted to have secured their La Liga survival and hopes to use the last two matches to improve their image. Granada Granada coach Abel Resino is likely to have Inigo Lopez available again for the Real Madrid clash after the defender recovered from injury. Levante Levante defender Pedro Lopez has urged his side to keep believing that they can still finish fourth, despite trailing Malaga by three points. Malaga Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho believes Atletico will field a competitive side this weekend, despite their upcoming Europa League final. Osasuna Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar will have to face Sociead this weekend without the services of Lekic, Roversio and Damia due to suspensions. Racing Santander Racing have confirmed that Pedro Munitis has played his last game this season as the striker is sidelined for three weeks due to muscle tear. Rayo Vallecano Rayo midfielder Michel has acknowledged that his team have no choice, but to win against Sevilla or risk getting suck down into the drop zone. Real Betis Real Betis coach Pepe Mel will be missing three players due to suspensions and another two due to injuries when they take on Sporting Gijon. Real Madrid Xabi Alonso said Real Madrid's La Liga triumph this season has been made all the more special because they have beaten a great Barcelona side. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca registered their first three consecutive wins in three seasons as they hope to qualify for Europa League in the next two games. Real Sociedad Sociedad captain Mikel Aranburu announced that he will retire at the end of this season because the time is right for him to leave football. Real Zaragoza Zaragoza captain Javier Paredes has told his team to make sure they have 43 points at the end of the season as they wait for other results. Sevilla Sevilla coach Michel may have to face Rayo Vallecano this weekend without the services of Alvaro Negredo and Gary Medel due to suspensions. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon striker Mate Bilic is sadden by their relegation from the La Liga, but admitted they have struggled for the past three seasons. Valencia Valencia midfielder Pablo Hernandez is delighted to have qualified to the Champions League, but they are determined to finish 3rd this season. Villarreal Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez lamented the absence of Marcos Senna due to physical problem because they could use him against Valencia.

Serie A

AC Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani claims Milan have no plans to revamp their attacking options in the summer, but he does not rule out a rethink. AS Roma Roma goalkeeper Maarte Stekelenburg insisted he is currently out due to a should injury and not because he wants to rest ahead of Euro 2012. Atalanta Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono insists players must respect Coaches after Fiorentina's Delio Rossi struck Adem Ljajic after he was provoked. Bologna Bologna boss Stefano Pioli will have to face Napoli without the services of Kone, Portanova and Ramirez after they were handed one-match bans. Cagliari Cagliari coach Massimo Ficcadenti will have to face Juventus without the services of Alessandro Agostini after he was handed a one-match ban. Catania Catania coach Vincenzo Montella will have to face Roma without the services of Nicolas Spolli after the defender was handed a one-match ban. Cesena Cesena manager Mario Beretta is keen to give his young players some Serie A experiences before the club heads down for their next campaign. Chievo Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino believes the characteristic of the pitch may have given his side a slight advantage in the draw with Roma. Fiorentina Fiorentina have confirmed that Vincenzo Guerini will take charge of the last two games of the season following the dismissal of Delio Rossi. Genoa Genoa President Enrico Preziosi regrets not hiring new boss Gigi De Canio earlier in the campaign, following their crucial win over Cagliari. Inter Milan Inter President Massimo Moratti has conceded that his club will inadvertently help one of their great rivals - Milan or Juventus to the title. Juventus Juventus have told the agent of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, that the club are not interested in signing the Italy international. Lazio Siena striker Mattia Destro says it would be an honour for him to partner Miroslav Klose should Lazio make a move for him in the summer market. Lecce Lecce will have to face Fiorentina without the services of Carrozzieri, Cuadrado and Muriel after the trio were handed one-match suspensions. Napoli Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri will have to face Bologna without the services of Federico Fernandez after the defender was handed a one-match ban. Novara Novara coach Attilio Tesser regretted that his team were unable to kill the game with a third goal only to let Fiorentina escape with a point. Palermo Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has revealed that boss Bortolo Mutti is unlikely to be handed a new contract, following recent results. Parma Parma coach Roberto Donadoni will have to face Siena without the services of Santacroce and Valdes after both were handed a one-match ban. Siena Siena striker Mattia Destro says it would be an honour for him to partner Miroslav Klose should Lazio make a move for him in the summer market. Udinese Midfielder Diego Fabbrini will remain at Udinese next season despite so far failing to become a regular first teamer at the Stadio Friuli.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Cologne have confirmed that striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal for the start of next season for a fee in the region of GBP10.9 million. Aston Villa Shay Given is looking for the Aston Villa squad to stick together through a tough time and ensure the club steers clear of relegation trouble. Blackburn Director Vineeth Rao insist Blackburn owners Venky's are not planning to sell the club, even if they are relegated from the Premier League. Bolton Bolton manager Owen Coyle believes the compensation demanded by Spurs for Harry Redknapp has seen the FA turn their attention to Roy Hodgson. Chelsea Petr Cech wants Roberto Di Matteo to unleash both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba on Chelsea's opponents in their triple pursuit of glory. Everton David Moyes hopes to be able to capitalise on any fatigue Stoke may display as Everton look to end their disappointing run against the Potters. Fulham Fulham coach Billy McKinlay believes it is 'vital' that the club hang on to Clint Dempsey and agree a new contract with the USA international. Liverpool Liverpool are hoping to complete the EUR7 million signing of AZ Alkmaar's star midfielder Rasmus Elm before he heads to Euro 2012 with Sweden. Manchester City Vincent Kompany scored his 3rd Premier League goal as Manchester City registered their 17th home victory following the match against Man Utd. Manchester United Vincent Kompany scored his third Premier League goal to condemned Man Utd to their third away defeat following the match against Man City. Newcastle United Newcastle boss Alan Pardew knows their clash against Chelsea could go a long way towards deciding the fate of their Champions League hopes. Norwich City Norwich coach Paul Lambert's transfer budget is unlikely to be much bigger than last summer, as reports claimed he will be focusing on defense. Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt admits his side have no choice but to beat Stoke this weekend, following the defeat to Chelsea. Stoke City Stoke have taken to the field 53 times this season, but Tony Pulis has urged his players to stay alert to the challenge for another 3 games. Sunderland Hitman Asamoah Gyan appears set to sever ties with Sunderland this summer, with Al Ain confident of securing his services on a permanent basis. Swansea City On-loan Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has confirmed he wants to stay in the Premier League next season rather than return to Hoffenheim. Tottenham Boss Harry Redknapp said Giovani dos Santos is almost certain to leave in the summer as Tottenham need to sell him before his contract expires. West Brom West Bromwich Albion defender Steven Reid has signed a new two-year contract which will keep him at The Hawthorns until the summer of 2014. Wigan Athletic Winger Shaun Maloney admits his Wigan side have exceeded expectations over recent weeks to give themselves a right good chance of staying up. Wolverhampton Terry Connor believes Wolves' performance against Swansea proves there is no problem with team spirit or a split camp in the dressing room.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa said he had to make the six changes against Zaragoza in order to avoid injury, due to their tight schedule. Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes his team played very well and created clear chances against Betis, but just could not seal the win. Barcelona Barcelona keeper Jose Pinto would have preferred Pep Guardiola to stay on at the helm, but says Tito Vilanova has the team's full backing. Espanyol Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has faith in his players and is convinced that their defeat to Sporting has nothing to do with match-fixing. Getafe Getafe sports chief Toni Munoz first concern for the summer is to lighten their squad to make room for news arrivals when the market reopens. Granada Granada coach Abel Resino has confirmed that Nigerian striker Ikechukwu Uche has recovered from injury and is available to take on Espanyol. Levante Levante defender Gustavo Cabral is still dreaming of a Champions League football, but would be happy to play in the Europa League next season. Malaga Coach Pellegrini believes Malaga will be playing in Europe next season if his players can maintain the attitude they showed against Valencia. Osasuna Osasuna boss Jose Luis Mendilibar will give defender Miguel Flano until the very last minute to prove his fitness, ahead of the Valencia clash. Racing Santander Racing Santander coach Alvaro Cervera is confident that his team can win a game before the end of the season, after failing to do so this year. Rayo Vallecano Rayo coach Jose Ramon Sandoval has urged the fans to trust his players to avoid relegation as they have done well to collect 40 points so far. Real Betis Real Betis coach Pepe Mel admitted that it took Atletico's opening goal to wake his team up and warned them not to repeat it against Sevilla. Real Madrid Alvaro Arbeloa is keen to see Real Madrid keep up their form as they need 9 points from their remaining games to break the 100-point barrier. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca winger Alejandro Alfaro has urged his team to keep their feet on the ground and not rush, as they aim for a a place in Europe. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad defender Dani Estrada believes his team have done well to secure their La Liga safety and that they are gradually getting better. Real Zaragoza Real Zaragoza coach Manolo Jimenez said his team are tired after a long season, but the best remedy for the bumps and bruises are victories. Sevilla Sevilla coach Michel rued the missed chances in the first half at Real Madrid and conceded that it is normal that they were made to pay for it. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon striker Mate Bilic is hoping the El Molinon factor will be decisive when they face Villarreal, who are favourites for the match. Valencia Valencia coach Unai Emery has no complaints about their defeat to Malaga as the equilibrium was broken with Sofiane Feghouli's sending off. Villarreal Villarreal coach Miguel Angel Lotina has underlined that the match against direct rivals Sporting Gijon is their most important of the season.

Serie A

AC Milan AC Milan coach Max Allegri expects to still be bossing the Diavolo next season after the president told him not to pay attention to rumours. AS Roma AS Roma coach Luis Enrique admitted that it has been a tough season with a few regrets, but is adamant that it has not been a disastrous one. Atalanta Stefano Colantuono declared that it has been a extraodinary season for Atalanta after his side secured their safety despite a 6-point penalty. Bologna Bologna head coach Stefano Pioli was very pleased with the win over Genoa and believes his players deserved to finish the campaign on a high. Cagliari Brescia has been named as the venue for Week 36 tie between Genoa and Cagliari after Stadio Ferraris was closed as punishment for fans trouble. Catania Catania coach Vincenzo Montella will have to face Bologna without the services of Barrientos after the midfielder was handed a one-match ban. Cesena Cesena coach Mario Beretta will have to face Udinese without the services of Mario Santana after the midfielder was handed a one-match ban. Chievo Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo insists he is not worried about the missing goals, as his team have created plenty of scoring opportunities. Fiorentina Delio Rossi admitted that Fiorentina are not same as in recent weeks, but believes their 6-point cushion should be enough to avoid relegation. Genoa Brescia has been named as the venue for Week 36 tie between Genoa and Cagliari after Stadio Ferraris was closed as punishment for fans trouble. Inter Milan Agostinho Ca's agent revealed has warned Inter to make an improved offer for the Sporting CP player before he sign a new deal in the summer. Juventus Aalborg sports director Lynge Jakobsen admitted that Juventus are keen on teenager Jacob Barret Laursen, but has denied claims of an agreement. Lazio Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti was handed a 4-match ban for pushing a referee, while Andre Dias is banned for 3 games due to his red card. Lecce Lecce coach Serse Cosmi and defender Andrea Esposito have been handed a one-match ban and will be on the stands for the match against Juventus. Napoli Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri will have to face Palermo without the services of Blerim Dzemaili after the midfielder was handed a one-match ban. Novara Coach Attilio Tesser believes Novara have done to the best of their capabilities against Juventus, even if they were not in the best shape. Palermo Palermo will be without Fabrizio Miccoli for the Napoli game due to concerns about his fitness, according to Vice-President Guglielmo Micciche. Parma Parma coach Roberto Donadoni has confirmed he will use the remaining games to give space to those who have not played as much this season. Siena Siena sporting chief Giorgio Perinetti admitted that at least two or three clubs will be chasing after Mattia Destro's signature in the summer. Udinese Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin will have to face Cesena without the services of Mehdi Benatia after the defender was handed a one-match ban.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger insists 'nothing is guaranteed' in the race for a third-placed finish despite Arsenal edging closer with a point at Stoke. Aston Villa Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has hailed his side's performance against West Brom and has special praise for Shay Given and Richard Dunne. Blackburn Blackburn boss Steve Kean claims he has identified a couple of weaknesses in the Tottenham side which Rovers can exploit at White Hart Lane. Bolton Manager Owen Coyle believes his Bolton side did enough to warrant three points against Sunderland but declared himself satisfied with one. Chelsea Juventus are reportedly chasing after Serb defender Branislav Ivanovic, who is valued at EUR8 million and his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard. Everton Everton boss David Moyes has praised Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar after they helped the Toffees to a big win over Fulham at Goodison Park. Fulham Fulham first-team head coach Billy McKinlay was left to rue a slow start from his side in their crushing defeat by Everton at Goodison Park. Liverpool Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish preferred to hand praise to his whole team rather than single out striker Luis Suarez after the win at Norwich. Manchester City Man City captain Vincent Kompany has no intention of changing his tackling style despite being sent off when he last encountered Man Utd. Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson says there will be a deep sense of regret for whichever Manchester club fails to lift the Premier League title this term. Newcastle United Alan Pardew remains confident that his Newcastle side can finish in the top four of the Premier League despite a crushing defeat by Wigan. Norwich City Norwich City coach Paul Lambert was disappointed to lose to Liverpool, but has underlined that his team are sitting in a really good position. Queens Park Rangers QPR boss Mark Hughes fancies his side to avoid relegation from the Premier League but is calling on his side to improve away from Loftus Road. Stoke City Head coach Tony Pulis is pleased to have got through the season without losing to any of the 'big teams' at home after Stoke held Arsenal. Sunderland Martin O'Neill admits his relief at watching Sunderland end a barren run of over four games without scoring, following the draw with Bolton. Swansea City Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers was disappointed with his side's defensive display after surrendering a 3-0 lead to draw with Wolves. Tottenham Captain Ledley King admits Tottenham's confidence has dipped but he is adamant the club can still qualify for next year's Champions League. West Brom West Brom boss Roy Hodgson believes that his side's draw with Aston Villa at The Hawthorns was a just result, but admits it was a bit strange. Wigan Athletic Coach Roberto Martinez was delighted that Wigan's decision to stick to their own game was rewarded with the big win over Newcastle United. Wolverhampton Wolves coach Terry Connor praised his team for the draw with Swansea, but admitted that he did not enjoy their display in the first 20 minutes.

Serie A

AC Milan Zlatan Ibrahimovic is prepared to walk away from AC Milan, should Silvio Berlusconi convince Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to join the club. AS Roma m Atalanta Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono is wary about facing in-form Fiorentina and confirms there will be changes to the squad to keep them fresh. Bologna Bologna coach Stefano Pioli wants to see motivation and determination on the field so that the Rossoblu can end the season without regrets. Cagliari Cagliari players failed to score for the third time in five games to register their eighth home draw following the match against Chievo Verona. Catania Nicola Legrottaglie scored his 5th Serie A goal of the season as Catania registered their 9th away draw following the match against Palermo. Cesena Cesena are mathematically in Serie B, but Mario Beretta assures everyone his players will give their all against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Chievo Chievo Verona players failed to score for the fourth straight game to register their sixth away draw following the match against Cagliari. Fiorentina Fiorentina registered several shock results in recent weeks, but coach Delio Rossi wants his team to get points against small or big sides. Genoa There are claims a Genoa player was slapped when ultras invaded a training session this season, but the club never reported it to the police. Inter Milan Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni admits president Massimo Moratti's praise gives him strength and fired him up ahead of the Cesena clash. Juventus Juventus are reportedly chasing after Serb defender Branislav Ivanovic, who is valued at EUR8 million and his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard. Lazio Manager Edy Reja hopes Lazio can find that bit of luck his side have not had all season to reach the Champions League as they take on Udinese. Lecce Lecce midfielder Manuele Blasi says he is ready to take to the field against Parma and will do his best to replace Cuadrado, who is banned. Napoli m Novara Novara coach Attilio Tesser has warned Juventus the Biancoazzurri will not focus only on defending their goal and insists anything can happen. Palermo Fabrizio Miccoli scored his 13th Serie A goal of the season as Palermo registered their 2nd home draw following the match against Catania. Parma Parma coach Roberto Donadoni knows that his team must interpret the game well against Lecce and also believe that their goal is within reach. Siena Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino has confirmed that Bogdani, Destro and Larrondo will lead the Robur's attack in their clash against AC Milan. Udinese Coach Francesco Guidolin has stressed that Udinese is his home and has no plan to leave as long as the club are still happy with his work.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa insisted that the never considered himself as a candidate to replace Pep Guardiola, despite the rumours. Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone wants his team to be efficient in every area as they seek to fulfill the great expectation at the club. Barcelona It was reported that Valencia full-back Jordi Alba has agreed to be the first signing of soon-to-be Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova this summer. Espanyol Adrian Colunga scored his 8th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Espanyol to their 6th home defeat following the match against Sporting. Getafe Victor Casadesus scored his 9th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Getafe to their 4th home defeat following the match against Mallorca. Granada Xavi Torres scored his 5th Primera Liga goal of the season to condemned Granada to their 13th away defeat following the match against Levante. Levante Xavi Torres scored his 5th Primera Liga goal of the season as Levante registered their 10th home victory following the match against Granada. Malaga Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini has stressed they are not thinking about making history, but to score the points needed to reach their target. Osasuna m Racing Santander Antoine Griezmann scored his 5th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Racing to their 9th away defeat following the match against Sociedad. Rayo Vallecano Rayo Vallecano coach Jose Ramon Sandoval has confidence in their own style of football, but admits any mistakes can be fatal against Barcelona. Real Betis Real Betis coach Pepe Mel is missing defenders Jose Dorado and striker Molina for the Atletico clash, but has recovered Isidoro and Paulao. Real Madrid Gonzalo Higuian's agent is set to have a talk with Real Madrid to discover whether the player will be given more playing time next season. Real Mallorca Victor Casadesus scored his 9th La Liga goal of the season as Mallorca registered their 5th away victory following the match against Getafe. Real Sociedad Antoine Griezmann scored his 5th La Liga goal of the season as Sociedad registered their 8th home victory following the match against Racing. Real Zaragoza Real Zaragoza coach Manolo Jimenez wants his team to pick themselves up and make sure they match the result of their nearest rivals Villarreal. Sevilla Sevilla coach Michel has doubts over the availability of Andres Palop after the veteran goalkeeper was taken off training as a precaution. Sporting Gijon Adrian Colunga scored his 8th La Liga goal of the campaign as Sporting registered their 3rd away victory following the match against Espanyol. Valencia Coach Unai Emery says it is important for Valencia to show positive reaction to their Europa League exit with a good display against Malaga.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal will have to combat Stoke's aerial threat, but believes the Gunners must stick to their footballing philosophy. Aston Villa Norwich City manager Paul Lambert believes it is 'extremely unfair' that he is being linked with replacing Aston Villa coach Alex McLeish. Blackburn Steve Kean admits Blackburn are going to have to win at least one of their away games at Tottenham and Chelsea to have a chance of staying up. Bolton Bolton head coach Owen Coyle has urged his plucky players to continue defying their critics as they look to climb out of the relegation zone. Chelsea Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that he is confident that Chelsea will allow him to stay on loan at Atletico Madrid a second season. Everton Everton are believed to be interested in Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season. Fulham Martin Jol has warned Simon Davies he will only be a bit-part player if the veteran stays at Fulham next season as he wants a younger team. Liverpool Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish would be happy just to see some league victories before the end of the season irrespective of how his side play. Manchester City Midfielder James Milner admits he is frustrated by his lack of playing time, but insists Man City winning matches is the most important thing. Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that choosing players to leave out of his side's crucial clash against Manchester City is a 'torturous' process. Newcastle United Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is targeting a third-place finish in order to avoid the heartbreak of missing out on the UEFA Champions League. Norwich City Norwich City manager Paul Lambert believes it is 'extremely unfair' that he is being linked with replacing Aston Villa coach Alex McLeish. Queens Park Rangers QPR head coach Mark Hughes says the club's recent form has given the Hoops a better chance of survival than many people would have expected. Stoke City Stoke coach Tony Pulis is hoping to pick up enough points in the next four games to be where they deserve to be - in the top half of the table. Sunderland Sunderland coach Martin O'Neill would love to bring a striker like Fernando Llorente of Bilbao, but accepted that he is an unrealistic target. Swansea City Joe Allen believes Swansea is the best place to continue his footballing education and that the club have a bright future under coach Rodgers. Tottenham Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto will miss the rest of the season after suffering a dislocated shoulder, Harry Redknapp has confirmed. West Brom Striker Shane Long is adamant that West Brom still have plenty to fight for this season, as they aim to take the local bragging rights again. Wigan Athletic Everton are believed to be interested in Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season. Wolverhampton Wolves keeper Dorus de Vries has no regrets about leaving Saturday's opponents Swansea last summer despite the Midlands club being relegated.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa has praised Fernando Llorente's display against Sporting CP, stating that he has never seen him play like that. Atletico Madrid Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed that he is confident that Chelsea will allow him to stay on loan at Atletico Madrid a second season. Barcelona Inter Milan have denied they will be making a move for Pep Guardiola, after the coach announced that he will be leaving Barcelona this summer. Espanyol Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has warned his players that their European dream will come to an end if they fail to beat Sporting Gijon. Getafe Getafe are looking to register their third win in five games when they take on Mallorca, who have dropped 34 points away from home this season. Granada Granada are keen to register their second victory in five games when they take on Levante, who have suffered five home defeats this season. Levante After extending his contract at Levante, defender Juanfran Garcia admitted it has been his dream to finish his career in his hometown club. Malaga Malaga defender Martin Demichelis has urged his team to play a complete game, even if they are nervous about meeting Valencia this weekend. Osasuna Osasuna head coach Mendilibar is not worried about the missing players as his team have learned to cope with absenses throughout the season. Racing Santander Racing are hoping to avoid their fourth defeat in five games when they take on Sociedad, who are looking to register their eighth home victory. Rayo Vallecano Rayo Vallecano are hoping to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat when they take on Barcelona, who have dropped 16 points away from home. Real Betis Betis are hoping to register their third win in five games when they take on Atletico Madrid, who have suffered nine away defeat this season. Real Madrid Juventus director Beppe Marotta has insisted that Arturo Vidal is not for sale after Real Madrid reportedly showed an interest in the player. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca are hoping to register their second straight victory when they take on Getafe, who have dropped 21 points at home this season. Real Sociedad Sociedad are looking to pick up points for the sixth straight game when they take on Racing, who are keen to avoid their ninth away defeat. Real Zaragoza Zaragoza are desperate to avoid their second straight defeat when they take on Bilbao, who are looking to register their fifth away victory. Sevilla Sevilla defender Juan Cala is aware of the difficulty that awaits his team at Bernabeu, but insists they have no choice but to go for the win. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon are desperate to register their second straight win when they take on Espanyol, who have dropped 21 points at home this season. Valencia Valencia coach Unai Emery admitted that Atletico Madrid deserve to go to the Europa League final and that the first leg played a key role. Villarreal Villarreal coach Miguel Angel Lotina said his team is growing stronger and that makes him hopeful about their chances of avoiding relegation.

Serie A

AC Milan AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is reportedly planning to push the club forward by sacking manager Max Allegri and half of his squad. AS Roma Roma coach Luis Enrique has told his players to learn to wear the colours with more pride because they can win titles as early as next year. Atalanta Atalanta are hoping to register their third win in five games when they take on Fiorentina, who are keen to avoid their ninth away defeat. Bologna Bologna are looking to pick up points for the 5th straight game when they take on Genoa, who are desperate to avoid their 13th away defeat. Cagliari Radja Nainggolan insists he does not know how close Juventus came to signing him in January because he never spoke to any of their officials. Catania Coach Vincenzo Montella is delighted with the timing of the Derby della Sicilia with Palermo, as he believes it can break Catania's poor form. Cesena Cesena President Igor Campedelli has thanked his club's fans for their reaction at the final whistle on Wednesday, as relegation was confirmed. Chievo Chievo are hoping to avoid their second straight defeat when they take on Cagliari, who are determined to register their eighth home victory. Fiorentina Fiorentina are looking to pick up points for the fifth straight game when they take on Atalanta, who have suffered only three home defeats. Genoa It was reported Catania director Pietro Lo Monaco has agreed a deal to join Genoa once he leaves the Sicilian side at the end of the season. Inter Milan Inter Milan have denied they will be making a move for Pep Guardiola, after the coach announced that he will be leaving Barcelona this summer. Juventus Juventus director Beppe Marotta has insisted that Arturo Vidal is not for sale after Real Madrid reportedly showed an interest in the player. Lazio Devis Mangia, who was sacked by Palermo in December, has denied reports that he has been approached by Lazio ahead of the 2012-13 campaign. Lecce Lecce are desperate to avoid their second consecutive defeat when they take on Parma, who are hoping to register their fourth away victory. Napoli Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri admits Ezequiel Lavezzi is still a doubt for the clash against Roma, even though the striker has resumed training. Novara Novara are hoping to avoid their third defeat in five games when they take on Juventus, who have conceded only eight goals away from home. Palermo Palermo head coach Bortolo Mutti has warned his side that it will take character, determination, grit and self-confidence to beat Catania. Parma Parma striker Sebastian Giovinco declares that the Ducali are very keen to finish the season well, reaching as high as possible on the chart. Siena Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino has Destro and Brienza available again for the clash against Milan, while Gonzalez is out with a muscle problem. Udinese Udinese are keen to avoid their second consecutive defeat when they take on Lazio, who are determined to register their eighth away victory.

Friday, April 27, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Alex Song's agent has moved to play down speculation linking the midfielder with a summer move to Inter and expects him to remain with Arsenal. Aston Villa Richard Dunne has urged fans to put aside their grievances with Alex McLeish 'for a few weeks' and instead support Aston Villa's survival bid. Blackburn Blackburn youngster Ryan Edwards has agreed a professional contract and is expected to be pushing for a place in the first-team next season. Bolton Bolton boss Owen Coyle has confirmed FIFA now have the necessary paperwork to prove young winger Gregg Wylde is clear to play for the club. Chelsea There will be no pre-match handshake for the game between Chelsea and QPR due to the legal situation involving John Terry and Anton Ferdinand. Everton Hoffenheim manager Markus Babbel claims the club are yet to receive any serious approaches for Gylfi Sigurdsson, despite links to Everton. Fulham Fulham coach Martin Jol believes that if midfielder Alex Kacaniklic can handle the Premier League then he is good enough to play for Sweden. Liverpool Liverpool manager Kenny Daglish has confirmed that midfielder Steven Gerrard is fully fit and he has been training all week with no issues. Manchester City Veteran Owen Hargreaves will not be offered a new deal by Manchester City - a decision that casts doubt over his long-term future in the game. Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United are going to have to get used to facing their local rivals in important games. Newcastle United Papiss Cisse has admitted he is thriving on the pressure of trying to live up to the demands of wearing Newcastle's famous number nine shirt. Norwich City Full-back Adam Drury has pinpointed Norwich's attacking ambition as the main difference between success and failure in the Premier League. Queens Park Rangers Anton Ferdinand's lawyers have advised the QPR defender not to shake John Terry's hand prior to Sunday's west London derby against Chelsea. Stoke City It was reported that Stoke City are interested in capturing Molde striker Magnus Wolff Eikrem, but faces competition from Gladbach and Genk. Sunderland Sunderland have confirmed that Seb Larsson will miss the last three games of the season after hernia surgery, but he is hopeful for Euro 2012. Swansea City Swansea coach Brendan Rodgers believes Terry Connor has done a terrific job and deserves the chance to bring Wolves back into the Premiership. Tottenham Tottenham have been put on alert after Espanyol midfielder Javi Marquez announced that he will leave the Spanish league outfit this summer. West Brom England legend Peter Shilton has urged West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster to reconsider his decision to quit international football. Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic coach Roberto Martinez insists he and his players are focused on keeping the club up, despite speculation over their future. Wolverhampton Swansea coach Brendan Rodgers believes Terry Connor has done a terrific job and deserves the chance to bring Wolves back into the Premiership.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao will meet Atletico Madrid in the final after Ibai Gomez scored his second Europa League goal to eliminate Sporting Lisbon. Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid will meet Athletic Bilbao in the final after striker Adrian Lopez scored his 10th Europa League goal to eliminate Valencia. Barcelona Barcelona have announced that playmaker Xavi is out for two weeks with a calf injury and will miss the match against Rayo, Malaga and Espanyol. Espanyol Midfielder Javi Marquez has confirmed that he will not be extending his contract at Espanyol and will leave the club in 2013 at the latest. Getafe Luis Garcia said the Mallorca clash is key to keep Getafe's European hopes alive, but it would not be a disappointment if they fail to qualify. Granada Granada striker Alex Geijo insists they are not yet safe from relegation and must try to secure all three points against Levante this weekend. Levante Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez has declared that their 'grand finale' to secure a place in Europe begins with the match against Granada. Malaga Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho admits he is still hoping to overtake Valencia and claim a spot in next season' Champions League competition. Osasuna Ibrahima Balde is delighted to have helped Senegal qualify for the Olympic and has thanked Osasuna for allowing him to join his national squad. Racing Santander Racing midfielder Manuel Arana is happy with his recovery and is feeling good, but believes the match against Sociedad is too soon for him. Rayo Vallecano Rayo Vallecano head coach Jose Ramon Sandoval admits injuries have had an affect on his team, but he insists he will not use it as an excuse. Real Betis Real Betis defender Nelson says his team are motivated heading into the Atletico clash because they want to forget the painful Valencia defeat. Real Madrid Jose Mourinho claims he will continue his spell with Real Madrid beyond this summer if he can reach an agreement with his current employers. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca winger Michael Pereira said his team will be ambitious against Getafe because they still have a slim chance of playing in Europe. Real Sociedad Xabi Prieto admits Real Sociedad must beat Racing and secure their safety, as it will difficult to do against Atletico, Osasuna and Valencia. Real Zaragoza Real Zaragoza midfielder Luis Garcia is convinced that his side will avoid relegation if they can win all four of their remaining fixtures. Sevilla Sevilla boss Michel is looking forward to the Bernabeu trip after claiming that Bayern have given him some ideas on how to take on Real Madrid. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon coach Javier Clemente could field Alex Menendez against Espanyol after the reserve player joined the first team in training. Valencia Atletico Madrid will meet Athletic Bilbao in the final after striker Adrian Lopez scored his 10th Europa League goal to eliminate Valencia.

Serie A

AC Milan Good news for AC Milan coach Max Allegri as Thiago Silva could return to the side for their game at Siena following a spell on the sidelines. AS Roma AS Roma striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo has been banned for two games for verbally abusing the referee and then applauding the fourth official. Atalanta Atalanta manager Stefano Colantuono will have to face Fiorentina without the services of Luca Cigarini after he was handed a one-match ban. Bologna Fiorentina captain Alessandro Gamberini is being linked with a summer return to hometown club Bologna, which he left in the summer of 2005. Cagliari Cagliari are in 6th place in the Fair Play chart with 77 penalty points after accumulating 73 yellow cards and 2 red cards so far this season. Catania Catania have announced the arrival of new board member Sergio Gasparin, who will be taking over from Pietro Lo Monaco at the end of the season. Cesena Cesena will have to take on Inter Milan without the services of Colucci, Moras and Rennella after the trio were handed a one-match suspension. Chievo Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo will have to face Cagliari without the services of Bostjan Cesar after the defender was handed a one-match ban. Fiorentina Amauri has probably his last game of the season after Fiorentina confirmed that he would be out for around 3 weeks with a thigh muscle strain. Genoa Genoa coach Gigi De Canio will have to face Bologna without the services of Bosko Jankovic after the striker was handed a one-match suspension. Inter Milan Massimo Moratti has suggested that Andrea Stramaccioni's hopes of staying on at Inter next season hinge on qualifying for the Champions League. Juventus Antonio Conte insists that Andrea Pirlo will continue to take penalties for Juventus, despite having missed both of his spot-kicks this term. Lazio Keisuke Honda's agent has played down reports linking the CSKA Moscow midfielder to Lazio, insisting there has been no contact from the club. Lecce Lecce coach Serse Cosmi will have to face Parma without the services of Cuadrado and Stendardo after both were handed a one-match suspension. Napoli Walter Gargano and his agent with talk to Napoli director Riccardo Bigon about the player's future, even though he is contracted until 2015. Novara Novara boss Attilio Tesser is thinking about upsetting Juventus this weekend, but acknowledges that his team must be able to play without fear. Palermo Fabricio Miccoli admits the mood in the Palermo camp is not good, but believes it will improve as they head into the derby against Catania. Parma Parma manager Roberto Donadoni believes there is still room for growth for Sebastian Giovinco and that he reminds him of Antonio Di Natale. Siena Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino will have to face AC Milan without the services of Andrea Rossi after the defender was handed a one-match ban. Udinese Udinese patron Giampaolo Pozzo has made it clear that there is no chance Francesco Guidolin will manage another Italian outfit before 2015.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Denmark hitman Nicklas Bendtner, who is on-loan from Arsenal, has admitted he may not stay at Sunderland even if he is offered the opportunity. Aston Villa Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan feels the club's players, and not under-fire manager Alex McLeish, are to blame for their recent troubles. Blackburn Junior Hoilett has insisted that troubled Blackburn Rovers have a 'great belief' that they can escape the Premier League relegation battle. Bolton Owen Coyle insists Bolton are 'masters of their own destiny' - and warned critics they can write off their survival chances at their peril. Chelsea Roberto Di Matteo must wait until the summer to see if he gets the Chelsea job on a permanent basis, according to chief executive Ron Gourlay. Everton Everton defender John Heitinga believes he still has room to improve despite claiming that this season has been his best as a professional. Fulham Martin Jol is happy with comparisons between his Fulham side and Everton, but has challenged his team to overhaul their weekend opponents. Liverpool Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned his team-mates they will need to play for their FA Cup final places in the next league fixtures. Manchester City Pablo Zabaleta is confident title-chasing Manchester City have the quality to prevail in next week's derby against rivals Manchester United. Manchester United Former England striker Michael Owen hopes he could still have a role to play for title-chasing Manchester United before the end of the season. Newcastle United Manager Alan Pardew has revealed injured duo Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan are closing on a first-team returns for Newcastle United. Norwich City Norwich boss Paul Lambert is looking to strengthen his squad in the summer, with Portsmouth defenders Joel Ward and Jason Pearce on his radar. Queens Park Rangers QPR head coach Mark Hughes has called on his side to end their horror run of away form when they take on Champions League finalists Chelsea. Stoke City Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has revealed that defender Andy Wilkinson could miss the rest of the season with his troublesome hamstring injury. Sunderland Denmark hitman Nicklas Bendtner, who is on-loan from Arsenal, has admitted he may not stay at Sunderland even if he is offered the opportunity. Swansea City Manager Brendan Rodgers will lose no sleep over Roberto Mancini's recent claim that Manchester United have an 'easy' game against Swansea. Tottenham Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists there will be no mass exodus at White Hart Lane if his team fail to qualify for the Champions League. West Brom West Brom's Paul Scharner is to undergo a scan on his injured wrist before it is decided whether he will be available to face Aston Villa. Wigan Athletic It was claimed that Wigan Athletic defender Ronnie Stam would welcome a move to PSV Eindhoven, who already made two attempts to bring him in. Wolverhampton Wolverhampton caretaker boss Terry Connor wants the decision makers at Molinuex to not be afraid to sacrifice him for the good of the club.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa has declared that his side are ready to take on Sporting CP and vowed they will retain their style of play. Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has acknowledged that their semi-final rivals Valencia are worthy of their absolute concentration respect. Barcelona President Sandro Rosell refused to blame Lionel Messi for Barca's Champions League exit and is proud of his side's performance against Chelsea. Espanyol Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino declares that his players fully believes in their European dream and are looking forward to their next game. Getafe It was reported that Olympiakos has identified Getafe coach Luis Garcia as the leading candidate to take over the reign from Ernesto Valverde. Granada Granada defender Borja Gomez insists he does not know whether the club want to take up the option to purchase his contract from Karpaty Lviv. Levante Levante striker Arouna Kone was absent from training with a bruised foot, but the medical team are confident he will be available on Saturday. Malaga It was claimed that midfielder Diego Buonanotte will leave Malaga at the end of the season, with Cruz Azul set to open talks with the club. Osasuna Osasuna defender Jon Enchaide has successfully underwent surgery to his left shoulder and is expected to return to training in the pre-season. Racing Racing head coach Alvaro Cervera has doubt over the availability of Christian Stuani after the striker picked up an injury during training. Rayo Vallecano Striker Dani Pacheco admits in order to win, his Rayo Vallecano team need to play a perfect game and pray that Barcelona are having an off day. Real Betis Bad news Real Betis coach Pepe Mel because striker Jorge Molina has been handed a two-match suspension following his red card against Valencia. Real Madrid m Real Mallorca Mallorca midfielder Fernando Tissone has said that his team will not change their approach and will play calmly and responsibly against Getafe. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez is confident of beating Racing and insists his side are not affected by what is happening in Santander. Real Zaragoza Zaragoza midfielder Apono believes there is a good chance for his side to overtake Villarreal if they can beat Athletic Bilbao this weekend. Sevilla Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido is optimistic about their chances at the Bernabeu, but hopes Real Madrid will be asleep this weekend. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon striker Oscar Trejo wants his squad to put on another fearless performance against Espanyol, who love to dominate the ball. Valencia Coach Unai Emery admits there may be some changes for the second leg clash with Bilbao, as Valencia head into the bigges match of his career. Villarreal Villarreal president Fernando Roig insisted that a relegation would not be a catastrophe for the club, but he would rather avoid such scenario.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Sao Paulo loanee Denilson announced he will return to Arsenal in July after the Brazilian club failed to reach an agreement to extend his stay. Aston Villa David Ngog scored his third goal in the Premier League to condemned Aston Villa to their eighth home defeat following the match against Bolton. Blackburn West Brom could move for Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson, should the Baggies fail to secure Ben Foster to a permanent deal at the Hawthorns. Bolton David Ngog scored his third goal in the Premier League as Bolton registered their sixth away victory following the match against Aston Villa. Chelsea Chelsea are in the final after Fernando Torres scored his 3rd Champions League goal of the season to eliminate Barcelona from the competition. Everton Everton manager David Moyes wants the club to make an early splash in the summer transfer market as it will make a big difference to the group. Fulham Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Kelly is determined to guide Fulham to a top-eight finish before switching his attention to Euro 2012. Liverpool Liverpool will have to find a new club for Alberto Aquilani as Milan are set to send the midfielder back to England at the end of the season. Manchester City Roberto Mancini remains adamant the Manchester derby is just 'one more game' despite its apparent importance as a Premier League title decider. Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his liking for Lille star Eden Hazard, adding to speculation that Manchester United may make a bid this summer. Newcastle United It was reported that Valencia and Newcastle are interested in acquiring the services of Mathieu Debuchy of Lille and Romain Hamouma of Caen. Norwich City Norwich have reportedly been linked with a summer move for Birmingham City centre-back Curtis Davies - but will face competition from Reading. Queens Park Rangers Tony Fernandes thinks the appointment of Mike Rigg as QPR's new technical director is one of the most important of his time at Loftus Road. Stoke City Stoke winger Jermaine Pennant says he is fully recovered and ready to return to the Potters side after two weeks out of action due to illness. Sunderland It was reported that Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill remains keen on Bolton Wanderers ace Kevin Davies, who is a free agent in the summer. Swansea City Goalkeeper Michel Vorm insists that he has no intention of turning his back on the Swans this summer, as he is happy at the Liberty Stadium. Tottenham Highly-rated Feyenoord winger Jerson Cabral is reportedly a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Newcastle. West Brom West Brom could move for Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson, should the Baggies fail to secure Ben Foster to a permanent deal at the Hawthorns. Wigan Athletic Emmerson Boyce believes Wigan players will this week seek to correct the mistakes which saw their run of good form come to an end at Fulham. Wolverhampton CEO Jez Moxey insisted Wolves are in a sound financial position and will not be panicking, despite their relegation from the Premier League.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz believes the keys to beating Sporting is to enjoy the game and have confidence in their own style. Atletico Madrid Juanfran Torres is calm and confident that Atletico Madrid will be able to overcome Valencia at the Mestalla and reach the Europa League final. Barcelona m Espanyol Bad news for Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino as Juan Albin is sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury. Getafe Head coach Luis Garcia has stressed that Getafe belongs in mid-table position and cannot be compared to Atletico, Sevilla, Bilbao and Malaga. Granada Granada striker Franco Jara has warned his side not to relax yet, even though they have a comfortable 8 point cushion with 4 games to play. Levante Gustavo Cabral has made it clear that he would like to stay with Levante, but the club is reluctant to pay EUR1 million to buy his contract. Malaga Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said he was satisfied with his team's performance in the draw against Osasuna after they met all his demands. Osasuna Youngster Manuel Onwu Villafranca has signed a professional contract with Osasuna until June 2015, with his buyout clause set at EUR9 million. Racing Santander Racing midfielder Julian Luque is hoping to improve the squad's image in their remaining four games in order to give some joy to the fans. Rayo Vallecano Rayo defender Raul Bravo is confident that his side can give Barcelona a hard time at Vallecas just like they did against Real and Atletico. Real Betis Real Betis are in 7th place in the Fair Play chart with 102 penalty points after accumulating 88 yellow cards and 7 red cards so far this season. Real Madrid Jose Mourinho hopes Chelsea progress to the Champions League final, but dismissed speculation that he is poised to return to Stamford Bridge. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca midfielder Joao Victor is happy with his campaign and claimed coach Joaquin Caparros gives him confidence that others do not. Real Sociedad Sociedad defender Alberto de la Bella is not worried about having 4 yellow cards and will play his usual game for the remainder of the season. Real Zaragoza Coach Manolo Jimenez had to intervene a training ground scuffle between Franco, Oriol and Zuculini as tension mounts in the Zaragoza camp. Sevilla Good news for Sevilla coach Michel as defender Emir Spahic is back in training and is likely to be available for the clash against Real Madrid. Sporting Gijon Mate Bilic has stressed that it is important for his Sporting team and the fans to keep a cool head because games are not won in one minute. Valencia It was reported that Valencia and Newcastle are interested in acquiring the services of Mathieu Debuchy of Lille and Romain Hamouma of Caen. Villarreal Cristian Zapata said Villarreal will treat their match against Osasuna as a final, but hopes his side will not concede any last minute goal.

Serie A

AC Milan Liverpool will have to find a new club for Alberto Aquilani as Milan are set to send the midfielder back to England at the end of the season. AS Roma Alberto Aquilani's agent has admitted that uncertainty surrounds the midfielder's future, but he has ruled out a possible return to AS Roma. Atalanta Max Moralez scored his sixth Serie A goal of the season as Atalanta registered their eighth home victory following the match against Chievo. Bologna Bologna coach Stefano Pioli has decided to rest Gaby Mudingayi for the clash against Siena as the midfielder is suffering from muscle fatigue. Cagliari Thiago Ribeiro scored his fourth Serie A goal of the season as Cagliari registered their seventh home win following the match against Catania. Catania Thiago Ribeiro scored his fourth Serie A goal of the season to condemned Catania to their seventh away defeat following the match at Cagliari. Cesena Mario Beretta admits Cesena will have to play 'beyond their means' to have any chance of taking a result off Juventus and avoid relegation. Chievo Max Moralez scored his sixth Serie A goal of the season to condemned Chievo to their eighth away defeat following the match against Atalanta. Fiorentina Manager Delio Rossi wants to see the same spirit and 'freedom of mind' from Fiorentina that he says is responsible for recent upward form. Genoa Genoa President Enrico Preziosi claimed he is ready to walk away after the conclusion of the campaign if he is no longer wanted at the club. Inter Milan Inter will be without Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti, Cristian Chivu, Luc Castaignos, Diego Forlan and Angelo Palombo for the Udinese clash. Juventus Juventus could decide to make a move for Emmanuel Adebayor after it was confirmed that Tottenham will not exercise their rights to buy him. Lazio Lazio manager Edy Reja has again expressed his frustration at the number of injuries his side are suffering in a key stage of the campaign. Lecce Lecce coach Serse Cosmi has Manuel Blasi back after serving his suspension and is likely to push Andrea Bertolacci to the bench against Napoli. Napoli Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has admitted that the club will decide at the end of the season whether he will stay for the 2012-13 campaign. Novara Novara coach Attilio Tesser has confirmed that Jeda has failed to recover in time, while Radovanovic will be on the bench due to groin problem. Palermo Palermo have confirmed new director Christian Panucci has resigned from his post following a disagreement with President Maurizio Zamparini. Parma Parma midfielder Stefano Morrone is set replace Francesco Valiani, who will be on the bench for the Palermo clash due to a knee complaint. Siena Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino will have to face Bologna without the services of Luigi Giorgi, after it was confirmed that he is out for 2 weeks. Udinese Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale is convinced that his side can qualify for the Champions League competition for the second season running.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

EPL

Arsenal Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has revealed that he is ready to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, but insists he wants to remain in England. Aston Villa Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed Richard Dunne is less than two weeks away from returning after two months on the sidelines. Blackburn Blackburn midfielder David Dunn admits the unrest surrounding the club is hurting him but is still hopeful they can avoid relegation the drop. Bolton Bolton boss Owen Coyle insists he has no worries about throwing teenager Josh Vela into their relegation dogfight in their trip to Aston Villa. Chelsea It was reported that Lazio and Napoli are chasing after Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou, who is likely to move to a Champions League outfit. Everton Marouane Fellaini believes his Everton side could have beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup if they had re-produced their display at Manchester Utd. Fulham It was claimed that Fulham striker Danny Murphy has no plan to move away in the summer market as he is happy with life at the Craven Cottage. Liverpool Kenny Dalglish says there is nothing drastically wrong at Liverpool as his team have been playing well despite dropping more points at Anfield. Manchester City AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has distanced the club from making a move for Manchester City pair Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez. Manchester United Nani has warned Manchester City that they will face an 'angry' Manchester United side in next week's title showdown at the Etihad Stadium. Newcastle United Highly-rated Feyenoord winger Jerson Cabral is reportedly a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Newcastle. Norwich City Striker Grant Holt would relish the opportunity of an England cap should one come his way, but remains focused on scoring goals for Norwich. Queens Park Rangers Mark Hughes thinks Adel Taarabt will go on to fulfil his potential after watching the controversial QPR star sink his former club Tottenham. Stoke City Stoke manager Tony Pulis is delighted with Jon Walters' all round displays and will stick with him despite his poor strike rate this season. Sunderland Sunderland head coach Martin O'Neill will look at his strikers as a matter of priority as he plans the way forward at the Stadium of Light. Swansea City Swansea star Gylfi Sigurdsson has been valued at GBP10 million as Liverpool, Everton and Manchester Utd all set their sights on the Icelander. Tottenham Highly-rated Feyenoord winger Jerson Cabral is reportedly a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Newcastle. West Brom West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster thinks he was very lucky to keep a clean sheet against Liverpool after his face was hit twice by the ball. Wigan Athletic Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is mentally prepared for more last-day drama as the race for Premier League survival heads down to the wire. Wolverhampton Wolves CEO Jez Moxey insists Terry Connor could have a future at Molineux and that the club are under no financial pressure to sell players.

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa believes his side were superior in the win over Racing, but they should have scored killed the game with more goals. Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone said the goals scored from set pieces speak well of the possibilities Atletico have in the team, following the win over Espanyol. Barcelona Gerard Pique insisted that Barcelona are not dependent on star forward Lionel Messi and also denied that they might have a mole in their camp. Espanyol Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has admitted the individual abilities of Atletico players was key in determining the outcome of their clash. Getafe Getafe manager Luis Garcia said his team 'have fallen out of bed' following the defeat to Granada, but they are still 'dreaming of Europe'. Granada Granada coach Abel Resino believes his team have the character to stay in the La Liga, but warned them that they are not safe from relegation. Levante Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua said his team are not content to play in the Europa League and will push for third or fourth place finishing. Malaga m Osasuna m Racing Santander Racing coach Alvaro Cervera has urged his players not to complicate matters further and to continue to do their best, despite their relegation. Rayo Vallecano Rayo star Mikel Labaka was disappointed to be sent off against Sporting, but believes his replacement will do well when they face Barcelona. Real Betis Real Betis coach Pepe Mel has admitted that things did not go well at all against Valencia, but acknowledged Los Che deserved the three points. Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo expects the Bernabeu crowd to 'score the first goal' as soon as Real Madrid players step onto the pitch versus Bayern Munich. Real Mallorca Real Mallorca are in 17th place in the Fair Play chart with 123 penalty points after accumulating 111 yellow cards and 6 red cards this season. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad coach Philippe Montanier is satisfied to be one step closer to safety and believes a win over Racing this weekend will secure it. Real Zaragoza Real Zaragoza are in 16th place in the Fair Play chart with 122 penalty points after accumulating 106 yellow cards and 8 red cards this season. Sevilla Winger Jesus Navas knows that Sevilla will have to use all their five senses against Real Madrid, but insists it is not impossible to win. Sporting Gijon Sporting defender Gregory Arnolin is still hoping to secure La Liga safety, even though his side will have to win all remaining four matches. Valencia Sergio Canales has refused to confirm reports that Unai Emery has told Valencia's players that he will be leaving at the end of the season. Villarreal Villarreal manager Miguel Angel Lotina was pleased to draw with a good side like Sociedad, but believes his team should have won the match.

Serie A

AC Milan Milan defender Ignazio Abate insists the Scudetto race is still alive because history has proven that titles can be claimed on the last day. AS Roma AS Roma midfielder Erik Lamela has been banned for three League games after he was caught spitting at Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner. Atalanta Atalanta are determined to register their second victory in five games when they take on Chievo, who have dropped 31 points away from home. Bologna Bologna coach Stefano Pioli says he expects to still be in charge of Bologna next season after masterminding their probable Serie A survival. Cagliari Cagliari are desperate to avoid their third consecutive defeat when they take on Catania, who are still looking for their third away victory. Catania Catania transfer guru Pietro Lo Monaco has confirmed he will leave the club in the summer after a breakdown in his relationship with President. Cesena Cesena are hoping to pick up points for the sixth straight game when they take on Juventus, who are looking to register their eighth away win. Chievo Chievo are hoping to register their third win in five games when they take on Atalanta, who have dropped 21 points at home so far this season. Fiorentina Fiorentina are hoping to pick up points for the fourth consecutive game when they take on Roma, who are keen to register their 11th home win. Genoa Bottom side Genoa have confirmed that Gigi De Canio is their new manager after Alberto Malesani was sacked for the second time this season. Inter Milan Inter will probably travel to Udinese without captain Javier Zanetti and defender Cristian Chivu after both were injured against Fiorentina. Juventus Juve defender Andrea Barzagli believes a new stadium, Andrea Pirlo and coach Antonio Conte have been key to their scudetto push this season. Lazio It was reported that Lazio and Napoli are chasing after Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou, who is likely to move to a Champions League outfit. Lecce Lecce President Giovanni Semeraro expects to lose Juan Cuadrado and Luis Muriel at the end of the campaign – whether the club stay up or not. Napoli Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri will give Ezequiel Lavezzi a last fitness test before deciding whether to take the striker on their trip to Lecce. Novara Novara are hoping to avoid their third consecutive defeat when they take on Lazio, who are confident of registering their eighth away victory. Palermo Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini says that it is almost certain that Siena's Giorgio Perinetti will become their new sporting director. Parma Parma are hoping to register their third consecutive victory when they take on Palermo, who have dropped 17 points at home so far this season. Siena Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini says that it is almost certain that Siena's Giorgio Perinetti will become their new sporting director. Udinese Udinese are keen to register their second win in five games when they take on Inter Milan, who have suffered seven away defeats this season.

Monday, April 23, 2012

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Gaizka Toquero scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season as Bilbao registered their fourth away win following the match against Racing. Atletico Madrid Arda Turan scored his third La Liga goal of the season as Atletico Madrid registered their tenth home win following the match against Espanyol. Barcelona Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted that Chelsea will be the fresher side on Tuesday but believes his players will be able to bounce back. Espanyol Arda Turan scored his third La Liga goal of the season to condemned Espanyol to their eighth away defeat following the game at Atletico Madrid. Getafe Franco Jara scored his second La Liga goal of the season to condemned Getafe to their tenth away defeat following the match against Granada. Granada Franco Jara scored his second La Liga goal of the season as Granada registered their seventh home victory following the match against Getafe. Levante Levante coach Juan Ignacio was happy to draw with Sevilla as he underlined that they started the season aiming only to remain in the La Liga. Malaga Coach Manuel Pellegrini said Malaga team fight to defend their Champions League position and believes the Osasuna clash will not be decisive. Osasuna Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar wants his players to do their part so that they can achieve their dreams of playing in European competition. Racing Santander Gaizka Toquero scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season to condemned Racing to their eighth home defeat following the match against Bilbao. Rayo Vallecano Rayo Vallecano coach Jose Ramon Sandoval rued the fact that none of his four defenders were able to finish the match against Sporting Gijon. Real Betis Jonas Goncalves scored his 7th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Betis to their 11th away defeat following the match against Valencia. Real Madrid Sergio Ramos believes Real Madrid were full value for their win over Barcelona, but refused to accept that they have won the La Liga title. Real Mallorca Mallorca coach Joaquin Caparros has congratulated his team for securing their safety, despite the club's financial difficulties this season. Real Sociedad Carlos Vela scored his 11th La Liga goal of the season as Real Sociedad registered their 6th home draw following the match against Villarreal. Real Zaragoza Coach Manolo Jimenez lamented that Mallorca won the match by jumping higher and through set pieces, without ever coming near Zaragoza's box. Sevilla Sevilla boss Michel insists he is happy with the team's work, but believes they have been unlucky this season, following the draw with Levante. Sporting Gijon Sporting Gijon coach Javier Clemente believes his side could have gotten at least 2 more goals in the final minutes of the match against Rayo. Valencia Jonas Goncalves scored his seventh La Liga goal of the season as Valencia registered their ninth home win following the match against Betis. Villarreal Marcos Senna scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season as Villarreal registered their fourth away draw following the match against Sociedad.

Serie A

AC Milan Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 24th Serie A goal of the season as Milan registered their 5th home draw following the match against Bologna. AS Roma Arturo Vidal scored his sixth Serie A goal of the season to condemned AS Roma to their tenth away defeat following the match against Juventus. Atalanta Stefano Colantuono has warned Atalanta that they risk ruining a great season and wants them to secure their safety in the next two home games. Bologna Gaston Ramirez scored his sixth Serie A goal of the season as Bologna registered their seventh away draw following the match against AC Milan. Cagliari Cagliari coach Massimo Ficcadenti blasted his team for a dreadful second half performance and believes Parma could have scored more goals. Catania Catania Coach Montella was delighted that his decision to take a massive risk with debutant goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano paid off hansomely. Cesena Vincenzo Rennella scored his first Serie A goal of the season as Cesena registered their seventh home draw following the match against Palermo. Chievo Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo praised his side's maturity and desire in the match against Udinese and said the draw boosted their self-esteem. Fiorentina Fiorentina players failed to score for the second consecutive game to register their fifth home draw following the match against Inter Milan. Genoa Mattia Destro scored his ninth Serie A goal of the season to condemned Genoa to their fourth home defeat following the match against Siena. Inter Milan Inter Milan players failed to score for the second time in five games to register their third away draw following the match against Fiorentina. Juventus Arturo Vidal scored his 6th Serie A goal of the season as Juventus registered their 12th home victory following the match against AS Roma. Lazio Francesco Matuzalem scored his first Serie A goal of the season as Lazio registered their fifth home draw following the match against Lecce. Lecce Striker Valeri Bojinov scored his third Serie A goal of the season as Lecce registered their fifth away draw following the match against Lazio. Napoli Napoli head coach Walter Mazzarri was relieved to win against Novara, as his team were feeling the pressure after three consecutive defeats. Novara Novara coach Attilio Tesser admitted that his team are repeating their previous mistakes and they are demoralised after the Napoli defeat. Palermo Silvestre scored his fourth Serie A goal of the campaign as Palermo registered their seventh away draw following the match against Cesena. Parma Parma coach Roberto Donadoni insisted his side are not safe yet from relegation, as he believes that the season can still hold many surprises. Siena Mattia Destro scored his ninth Serie A goal of the campaign as Siena registered their third away victory following the match against Genoa. Udinese Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin was pleased with his players and insisted that they could not have done more against an in-form Chievo side.

EPL

Arsenal Thomas Vermaelen claims to have no plan of leaving Arsenal, with it his desire to repay the faith shown in him by the club and Arsene Wenger. Aston Villa Aston Villa head coach Alex McLeish hopes striker Gabriel Agbonlahor will be fit to face Bolton, but is less optimistic about James Collins. Blackburn Blackburn boss Steve Kean remains confident his Rovers side can get themselves out of trouble in their final three games of the campaign. Bolton Gretar Steinsson admits Bolton must make the most of their games in hand if they are to drag themselves clear of the Premier League drop zone. Chelsea Striker Didier Drogba looks set to be fit for the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final versus Barcelona after resuming training. Everton David Moyes branded Everton's performance in the draw with Manchester Utd as 'brilliant' and was pleased to see a positive approach pay off. Fulham Fulham defender Philippe Senderos believes that Fulham could overtake Everton and Liverpool to equal their best Premier League finish of 7th. Liverpool Head coach Kenny Dalglish admitted it was another case of deja vu as he saw Liverpool lose at home to West Brom despite dominating the game. Manchester City Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes his team still have a 'chance' in the title race after beating Wolverhampton at Molineux. Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson admits United have handed initiative back to City and that the Manchester derby next Monday will be vital in the title race. Newcastle United Harry Redknapp has admitted that Newcastle are in a great position to beat Tottenham to fourth place as there is no pressure on the Magpies. Norwich City Norwich City coach Paul Lambert admitted that he is looking forward to the Liverpool clash as he look to bounce back from the Blackburn defeat. Queens Park Rangers QPR head coach Mark Hughes has challenged his team to take their excellent home form on the road when they travel to Chelsea this weekend. Stoke City Stoke boss Tony Pulis has put the blame on defeat at St James' Park on striker Jon Walters who 'could have scored a hat-trick by himself'. Sunderland Defender John O'Shea believes Sunderland deserved more from their draw against Aston Villa, as his side dominated large spells of the game. Swansea City Ashley Williams was pleased with Swansea's performance against Bolton and felt the display had deserved another away win for the collection. Tottenham Harry Redknapp has admitted that Newcastle are in a great position to beat Tottenham to fourth place as there is no pressure on the Magpies. West Brom West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson has admitted his side rode their luck to register their first win over Liverpool at Anfield in 45 years. Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic have apparently signed 19 year old Swede Alieu Darbo on a three year contract following his release from French club Le Mans. Wolverhampton Striker Karl Henry has labelled it a 'sad day' for Wolverhampton after their relegation was confirmed following the defeat to Manchester City.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

La Liga

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa has dropped Iker Muniain on technical decision and brought in Gaizka Toquero to take over his place. Atletico Madrid Atletico president Enrique Cerezo believes their second leg clash against Valencia will be the most important match of the season for his club. Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 42nd La Liga goal of the term to condemned Barcelona to their 1st home defeat following the visit of Real Madrid. Espanyol Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino believes he is quite different from his Atletico counterpart Diego Simeone, who has won titles in Argentina. Getafe Getafe manager Luis Garcia admits he is wary about facing the teams from below, as he believes that they can be more dangerous than others. Granada Granada coach Abel Resino reveals that he has been working on his team's mental preparation as excessive anxiety can be fatal against Getafe. Levante Arouna Kone scored his 14th Primera Division goal of the season as Levante registered their 4th away draw following the match against Sevilla. Malaga Malaga defender Sergio Fernandez believes concentration and second half performance will determined the outcome of their match against Osasuna. Osasuna Osasuna defender Marc Bertran declared that he is fit again and hopes to be selected for their clash against direct rivals for Europe, Malaga. Racing Santander Racing coach Alvaro Cervera insisted that no one at the club has thrown in the towel, even though they already have one foot in Segunda Liga. Rayo Vallecano Mate Bilic scored his third La Liga goal of the season to condemned Rayo to their ninth away defeat following the match against Sporting Gijon. Real Betis Real Betis coach Pepe Mel has reminded his team that a win over Valencia would finally allow them relax and turn their attention up the chart. Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 42nd La Liga goal of the term as Real Madrid registered their 14th away victory following the match at Barcelona. Real Mallorca Victor Casadesus scored his 8th La Liga goal of the season as Mallorca registered their 7th home victory following the match against Zaragoza. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad boss Philippe Montanier has stressed that what matters right now is beating direct rivals Villarreal and not his 'personal case'. Real Zaragoza Victor Casadesus scored his 8th La Liga goal of the season to condemned Zaragoza to their 12th away defeat following the match versus Mallorca. Sevilla Alvaro Negredo scored his 12th La Liga goal of the campaign as Sevilla registered their 4th home draw following the match against Levante. Sporting Gijon Mate Bilic scored his third La Liga goal of the season as Sporting Gijon registered their sixth home victory following the match against Rayo. Valencia Valencia coach Unai Emery said this is critical time of their campaign and has urged his side to be more effective in their remaining matches. Villarreal Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi has confirmed that his knee operation has been a success and is now expected to face 7 months of rehabilitation.

Serie A

AC Milan It was reported that AC Milan have won the race for Bayake Traore after the Nancy midfielder agreed to a three year contract at the San Siro. AS Roma Fabio Borini and Maarten Stekelenburg are in the Roma squad travelling to Turin, although it is not clear if they are fit to face Juventus. Atalanta Alejandro Gomez scored his fourth Serie A goal of the season to condemned Atalanta to their sixth away defeat following the match at Catania. Bologna Bologna boss Stefano Pioli thinks this could be a very unusual end to the season as the teams are set to play six games in the next 20 days. Cagliari Sebastian Giovinco scored his 12th Serie A goal of the season to condemned Cagliari to their 10th away defeat following the match versus Parma. Catania Alejandro Gomez scored his fourth Serie A goal of the season as Catania registered their ninth home win following the match against Atalanta. Cesena Cesena coach Mario Beretta are set to field Santana, Mutu and Malonga in attack against Palermo, while Iaquinta is not fit and is on the bench. Chievo Chievo Verona players failed to score for the second consecutive games to register their fifth home draw following the match against Udinese. Fiorentina Bad news for Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi after it was confirmed Stevan Jovetic will miss their match against Inter due to a muscle problem. Genoa Genoa coach Alberto Malesani is missing Belluschi and Moretti for the clash against Siena, while Antonelli and Constant are back in the squad. Inter Milan Coach Andrea Stramaccioni welcomes back Wesley Sneijder against Fiorentina and assures a player like him can never be a problem for Inter. Juventus Juventus coach Antonio Conte has revealed that striker Fabio Quagliarella could miss the match against Bologna due to upper thigh problem. Lazio Lazio coach Edy Reja has urged his team to stay focused against Lecce as it is a decisive match if they want to go to the Champions League. Lecce Lecce coach Serse Cosmi has warned Lazio that his side will be looking for the full three points, despite the Biancoceleste's top 3 status. Napoli Edinson Cavani scored his 20th Serie A goal of the campaign as Napoli registered their 8th home victory following the match against Novara. Novara Edinson Cavani scored his 20th Serie A goal of the campaign to condemned Novara to their 13th away defeat following the match against Napoli. Palermo Palermo head coach Bortolo Mutti is struggling with absenses, is likely to continue with his 3-5-2 formation for the match against Cesena. Parma Sebastian Giovinco scored his 12th Serie A goal of the season as Parma registered their 8th home victory following the match against Cagliari. Siena Siena head coach Giuseppe Sannino has dropped Marcelo Larrondo and Nicola Belmonte for the Bologna clash, but both could return on Wednesday. Udinese Udinese players failed to score for the second time in five games to register their sixth away draw following the match against Chievo Verona.