انتصر برسبوليس الإيراني على باختاكور الأوي بهدفين دون رد في ربع نهائي دوري أبطال آسيا اليوم الأربعاء.
وتأهل برسبوليس لمواجهة النصر في نصف النهائي بالبطولة الآسيوية التي تحتضن منافساتها قطر في الفترة الحالية.
وسجل عيسى علي كثير لاعب برسبوليس هدف التقدم لفريقه في الدقيقة 49 ثم أحرز أنزور إسماعيلوف لاعب باختاكور هدفًا بالخطأ في مرماه.
ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة النصر وبرسبوليس يوم 3 من أكتوبر المقبل في الدوحة بقطر.
It’s nearly that time again Celtic fans, nearly time to lift that Premiership trophy yet again. Eight in a row, how good does that sound? Indeed, Neil Lennon is looking to have what is an unexpected reunion with the Scottish trophy, though he’ll know more than anyone that there’s still work to be done.
Lennon started the year planning his holidays, but since Brendan Rodgers took an unexpected U-turn on the Hoops, the club legend once again finds himself back in the driving seat at Celtic Park and looking to bring yet another title to his cabinet. Comfortable at the top of the tree, it’s not as if the Bhoys are playing blistering football, and the ex-Hibs coach will be looking to make his mark ahead of the club’s managerial search this summer.
So, with an away trip Dundee up next later today, we take a look at how Lennon can improve from the 0-0 draw last week.
Drop Ewan Henderson
After featuring in the 0-0 draw with Aberdeen, only his third appearance for the first team in the league, it may be time for someone who has a bit more about them to really push Celtic over that line.
Despite grabbing an assist in his first appearance, it has been made clear to see that a step up to the first team may have been too soon for the 18-year-old, who should be blooded in once everything is wrapped up.
While not looking ready yet, the Scottish international has certainly shown why fans should be excited and look forward to what this young talent can bring next season. Don’t burn him, Neil.
Start Odsonne Edouard
Showing exactly why fans should be excited about him, scoring 12 goals and grabbing 5 assists in 24 Premiership games, the 21-year-old forward has certainly had a season to remember.
Indeed, the last game Edouard played against Dundee resulted in a 0-5 away win, bagging himself a goal and an assist during the game, proving that he knows how to haunt their defence. Feed the Frenchman and he will score, making it an easy end of season for the Bhoys.
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Liverpool are continuing to monitor Manuel Lanzini ahead of a possible summer bid, sources have told Football FanCast.
The Telegraph reported last summer that Lanzini was being considered as a potential alternative to Nabil Fekir, the Lyon attacking midfielder who failed to complete a move to Anfield, before suffering a serious injury.
And FFC can now reveal that Liverpool have not given up hope of luring the 26-year-old to Merseyside.
Indeed, Lanzini sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in the summer and was subsequently ruled out of participating in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He made his comeback on Friday, coming on as a substitute in the 3-1 win over Fulham at the London Stadium.
Sources within the London Stadium have confirmed to FFC that Liverpool’s previous interest was genuine and that Klopp remains keen on the prospect of securing a deal for Lanzini.
The 26-year-old’s current contract expires in 2020, but West Ham hold an option to extend that by a further two years should they so wish.
Liverpool have struggled for form in recent weeks, with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both flattering to deceive.
The Reds, in total, have won just one of their last five games in all competitions – a 3-0 success over Bournemouth.
And there is a fear at West Ham that Liverpool’s lack of goals and creativity will see them turn to their playmaker.
Lanzini was in superb form last season, scoring five goals and laying on nine assists in all competitions. Had he not sustained his injury, he would surely have played a part in Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
It remains to be seen whether West Ham would countenance the prospect of selling one of their prized assets this summer, however.
They have already been forced to endure one saga this season – Marko Arnautovic’s flirtation with China ended with him signing a new contract in January.
There is a clause in that deal, however, that will allow him to leave in the next transfer window if a bid worth £45million is tabled.
The prospect of losing both Lanzini and Arnautovic in the same summer is unthinkable for many Hammers fans.
Co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, then, would surely demand a king’s ransom for Lanzini if they were to sell up.
As it stands, he has returned just in time for the Hammers, with Michail Antonio hopeful that he can aid their push for European football. West Ham are currently ninth, four points behind seventh-placed Watford in the final Europa League qualification spot.
He told Sky Sports: “They call Manu ‘the jewel’ and that’s exactly what he is. He is a special player and hopefully he can come back and keep pushing us up the table.”
[ad_pod ]Brighton fans have taken to Twitter to praise Solly March, after the winger came on from the bench to turn the game around against Millwall and send his side to Wembley.The Seagulls were trailing by a single goal before March’s introduction, and things went from bad to worse when Millwall netted a second just three minutes after the 24-year-old entered the fray from the bench.In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…However, once he had time to settle into the feisty affair, the Brighton academy graduate was able to help his side score twice with just 20 minutes of normal time to play to take the game into extra time – it was March’s free kick that forced Lions stopper David Martin into making a 95th-minute error.Chris Hughton and the Brighton fans will have been delighted with March’s impact, even more so after the forward dispatched his penalty confidently into the top corner to help the Premier League side win the shootout.
Let’s see what the Seagulls supporters are saying on Twitter about March’s game-changing performance…
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West Ham have joined the queue for Benfica youngster Joao Felix, per Calciomercato.
The 19-year-old is wanted by a number of elite European clubs and has a release clause worth €120million (£103m) embedded into his contract.
Felix has become a superstar at Benfica this season.
Just 19, he has already made his Champions League debut and scored 11 goals in 28 appearances in all competitions, while laying on six assists.
A pacey, skilful right winger, Felix is being coveted by the likes of Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG and Atletico Madrid.
The aforementioned report claims that his dream is to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but Benfica are determined to keep him and are preparing an offer of a new contract that will raise his release clause to over €200m (£172m).
West Ham are said to be monitoring developments surrounding his future but may be priced out of the race relatively quickly.
It is only right that Premier League clubs should be monitoring the best young talent from across the continent.
But Felix, the jewel of Benfica’s youth academy, is out of the Hammers’ league.
One’s mind is thrown back to when the club attempted to sign Neymar from Santos in 2010; the idea was good in principle but there was precious little chance of securing the Brazilian’s signature as the biggest clubs in the world circled.
The same is true here; why on earth would Felix fancy a move to east London over a club that has the genuine ability to win the Champions League?
West Ham, at the end of the day, should stay in their lane.
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Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to an update from the international break, as Alfredo Morelos was pictured promoting Colombia’s new kit.
It wasn’t too long ago that few outside of Scotland had heard of ‘El Bufalo’, but 29 goals, 11 assists and four red cards later, there isn’t a football fan on the planet without an opinion of the feisty Gers ace.
At 22, he has only recently been drafted into the Colombia first team, earning his first cap during the last international break, and he has now been spotted modelling the team’s new kit.
Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…
Fans are unsurprisingly heaping praise on their talisman, as it is quite the feat to go from not even in consideration for the senior squad to promoting the kit launch alongside the likes of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, which you can see here.
The young striker has signed two separate new contracts at Ibrox this season, the second of which is expected to keep him at the club until 2023.
Loads of Gers fans have been sharing their thoughts on Morelos’ drastic rise to the top, and there’s a lot of pride on show in the Twitter reactions down below…
أكد بيرند شوستر، لاعب برشلونة السابق، أن استمرار ميسي مع الفريق يثير قلقه، بعدما فشلت مساعي النجم الأرجنيتين، في الرحيل خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.
ميسي أراد الرحيل من برشلونة، لكنه قرر البقاء في النهاية، بسبب الشرط الجزائي في عقده المقدر بـ 700 مليون يورو، لكنه أكد بأنه سيستمر رغم الخلاف مع إدارة النادي.
طالع أيضًا.. برشلونة يُعلن التشخيص النهائي لإصابة جوردي ألبا
وقال شوستر في تصريحات لإذاعة “أوندا سيرو” الإسبانية: “ميسي يثير قلقي، لا أعرف ما إذا كان واضحًا بشأن دوره في الفريق هذا الموسم”.
وأضاف: “رحيل سواريز سيؤثر عليه بالتأكيد، ليس لأنه صديقه المقرب فقط، لكن بسبب وجوده في الملعب أيضًا، لأن ميسي في عدم وجود لويس، يحصل على أدوار أخرى”.
وأشاد شوستر بالمدافع الشاب رونالد أراوخو: “لقد كان جريئًا أمام إشبيلية، وأحببت رؤيته هكذا”.
وتعادل برشلونة لأول مرة هذا الموسم، أمس الأحد، في مواجهة إشبيلية، بالجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإسباني.
[ad_pod ]Chelsea defeated Tottenham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, as Maurizio Sarri’s men bounced back from the disappointment of their Carabao Cup final penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City.The performance was one of fire and brimstone, with the Blues setting up to play at a high tempo, while also looking to limit the chances created by Spurs.A low block was set up which stifled the attack of Mauricio Pochettino’s men, with Harry Kane, still apparently half-fit, forced to drop deeper and deeper in search of the ball.Indeed, per Opta, Spurs did not manage a single shot on target for the first time under Pochettino’s management.
The stat is all the more remarkable when one considers that, at Wembley, Tottenham ran riot, beating Chelsea 3-1 and having nine shots on target. Clearly, Sarri has learned some lessons since then.
Spurs marginally shaded the possession at Stamford Bridge, but their slow, methodical build-up ultimately played into Chelsea’s hands, with the Blues favouring quick bursts in attack.
Due to their sluggishness on the transition, Pochettino’s men could not find a way through Chelsea and failed to create a truly clear-cut chance.
Per WhoScored, Spurs had 546 passes compared to 480 for the home side, while the Blues were forced into 15 blocks and 37 tackles. It is hard to feel that this was not by design.
Pedro, playing on the right flank, embodied this strategy, routinely collecting the ball from deep and sprinting at the Spurs defence, with a similar passage of play resulting in Chelsea’s first goal.
Cesar Azpilicueta took the ball in on the halfway line and surged forward, playing in Pedro, who beat Toby Alderweireld and fired between Hugo Lloris’ legs.
Spurs, of course, did not help themselves. Their performance after going a goal down was one of desperation; Pochettino threw on Fernando Llorente, abandoning his 4-2-3-1 formation in favour of moving two up top. Son Heung-Min was subsequently shunted out wide, and the South Korea international’s influence waned as a result.
Kane, meanwhile, began dropping even deeper, to accommodate the aerial threat posed by the Spaniard.
It didn’t work – Chelsea were well-equipped to deal with an aerial bombardment and did so with aplomb, before Kieran Trippier and Lloris conspired to kill Spurs’ hopes stone dead.
After a long ball forward, there appeared little danger as Trippier looked to play the ball back to his goalkeeper. Lloris, however, had charged out of his area in an attempt to sweep up, and the England international simply passed the ball into the back of his own net.
It is difficult, of course, to account for such monumental stupidity from two seasoned professionals but Pochettino’s tactics from the start failed to take advantage of the tiredness in Chelsea’s legs.
Whereas at Wembley, Spurs were at full throttle and took the Blues by surprise, this was the opposite.
Watching on, few would have been forgiven for thinking it was Spurs who played 120 minutes of football on Saturday; Sarri, ultimately, masked those flaws with clever planning, a low defensive block and explosive phases of attacking play.
Spurs had no answer, and are now surely out of the title race.
It’s no secret that Everton need a striker, right? They’ve never really replaced Romelu Lukaku and it’s cost them in front of goal, but Ante Rebic could be the man Everton fans have been waiting for.
The World Cup finalist has been linked to the club by Calciomercato and has scored eight goals in 20 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season. He can be the target man needed to up the Toffees’ goal tally, and with the ability to play out on the left it gives Marco Silva the option to use him out there too.
Everton have a big project on their hands with a new stadium on the way and a manager that demands high-quality attacking football. This season has been hit and miss but there have been positive signs that the current squad just needs a few additions to make it one to challenge for a European place.
One of those positions is certainly a finisher because the forwards currently at Silva’s disposal just aren’t getting into the right areas quick enough. They have the wingers, like Bernard and Theo Walcott, to cause damage to defences but the end product is never good enough.
Rebic can be the man to link the wing play with the centre of the final third and get on the end of all heights of crosses to finish simple chances that Everton just aren’t taking at the moment. The Croatian’s movement would also create space for Gylfi Siggurson to slot through balls into his path.
The 25-year-old is valued at £31.5m (via Transfermarkt), so considering the importance of the position he could fill, it could turn out to be a bargain and even a summer signing that Evertonians will see as a turning point towards goal-scoring consistency.
Everton fans, who do you think your club should sign to play up front next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.
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Millwall pulled off a fantastic result with their 2-0 win away at Birmingham on Wednesday night, the three points returning to The Den in no small part thanks to Ben Thompson – the midfielder scored both Lions goals.
Having returned from a short loan spell at Portsmouth in January, the 23-year-old has made a huge difference to Millwall, although his brace is his biggest contribution by far since he came back to The Den two months ago.
Millwall boss Neil Harris feels that the number 8 did far more for his team than find the net, as he heaped praise on the match-winner after the game:
“Thommo was excellent, as he has been ever since he’s come back from Portsmouth. He went on loan in the first place to gain some confidence and much needed first-team minutes, and we had a strong squad off the back of a great season at the time he went to Pompey.
“I knew that him playing under Kenny [Jackett] would be a great benefit to him, and he has come back ready to be a Championship footballer. He is finding his feet with the big step up, he galvanises us as a group and also the fanbase.”
Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…
Indeed, the Sidcup-born ace has been excellent since returning from Fratton Park but particularly in previous weeks, where his match ratings have not dipped below a 7 (WhoScored).
The impact which Harris indicates Thompson has on the team is remarkable considering he was playing League One football only a few months ago – now he is putting in near man-of-the-match performances week-in, week-out and is emerging as a key player for the Lions.