Barcelona, Real held as Valencia hold top

Barcelona, Real held as Valencia hold top

A clinical Cesc Fabregas strike rescued a point for champions Barcelona in a 2-2 draw away to top of the table Valencia on Wednesday.

After the first weekend of fixtures there had been complaints that La Liga was already a two-horse race as both Barcelona and Real Madrid won by large margins. But since then it has not gone their way and Valencia lead the standings with ten points. Indeed Real dropped further points on Wednesday as they followed up their shock defeat to Levante last weekend by being held 0-0 by modest Racing Santander.

Valencia went ahead after just eleven minutes when Eric Abidal put a Jeremy Mathieu cross into his own net but, just two minutes later, Pedro Rodriguez equalised after a neat interchange between Cesc and Lionel Messi. Valencia enjoyed plenty of possession in the middle of the pitch and they went ahead again as Pablo Hernandez put away a Mathieu cross. Then before half-time Roberto Soldado missed an open goal.

It was not until the final stages of the match that Barca asserted themselves and it was once again the Messi and Fabregas combination which has worked so well this season that made the difference. The Argentinian found the former Arsenal man, who kept his head and placed the ball past the keeper.

In injury time Valencia were reduced to 10 men as defender Jordi Alba was given a straight red card for a comment he made to the referee.
People not directly involved in the sport perhaps said that the league was between two teams but the coaches and players would never say that.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said that he had never considered the title race would be a two club affair. "People not directly involved in the sport perhaps said that the league was between two teams but the coaches and players would never say that," said Guardiola.

"Valencia showed here that they are a strong team and can go out and win games. Apart from talking about the result, the game itself was good to watch.

"Valencia played well in the first half and we will learn our lesson from how it went. I am not disappointed with the result as we still have options to win everything."

Real coach Jose Mourinho rang the changes after the defeat by Levante but despite that it was another ineffective performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a header well saved by keeper Tono Rodriguez before the break and in the second half the introduction of Angel Di Maria did make some difference. In the closing stages Real were reduced to pumping the ball forward hopefully and Racing were able to hang on. The draw leaves Real Madrid on seven points, three adrift of Valencia.

Even the normally unflappable Mourinho admitted he was worried by their form. "This was a different match to that against Levante as here it felt as though there was only one side looking to win the game," said Mourinho.

"It is a worrying situation as we have now lost five points from two games away from home. It would be wrong to say one player hasn't scored or another one has failed but as a team we weren't at our best although we tried."

Elsewhere on Wednesday Atletico Madrid recorded their second successive 4-0 win as they beat pointless Sporting Gijon with Colombian striker Falcao scoring a double following on from his hat-trick at the weekend.

A second half strike from Santi Cazorla gave Qatar-owned Malaga victory over Athletic Bilbao - their third successive win - and Levante's good form continued with a 2-1 win away at Rayo Vallecano.

On Thursday Real Betis, another side with a 100 per cent record, face Zaragoza.

Leone Stars rising together

Leone Stars rising together
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A decade and a half since hitting their high-water mark on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, Sierra Leone are climbing the ladder once again. With a leap of 24 places after one of the most famous victories in their history, the Leone Stars have moved up to the 68th position in the world and 16th in Africa. The boost in the rankings comes courtesy of a good run in qualifying for the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations and a home win over giants Egypt that has the often turbulent country unified in spirit and the team looking ahead to better things.

The west African side have had just a few high points to cheer about since the mid-1990s when they reached consecutive continental tournaments and were ranked 51st in the world, but the Stars have won their last two matches and are in with a shout of reaching January’s AFCON to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. They are also anxious to build on their good showings as they head into qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, where they will try to best Tunisia and Cape Verde Islands for a first appearance at the showpiece event.

If that sounds far-fetched, it is worth remembering that few gave Sierra Leone much of a chance when they were drawn into Group G in 2012 qualifying, which included not just Egypt, but South Africa and Niger as well. However, right from the start, the Stars punched above their weight, drawing 1-1 in Egypt last September to kick off the campaign. They then got the better of Bafana Bafana in Freetown, but could not prevent a scoreless draw before splitting a pair of matches home and away with the much-improved Nigerians.

The 3-1 away loss in Niamey, which the Stars led until after the hour mark, is their only defeat so far in the campaign, although they are now faced with a must-win trip to Port Elizabeth in the final round of preliminaries. Winning in South Africa will be a tall task for a team that was ranked 123rd at the start of 2011 and has clawed their way back from 172nd just four years ago. But after putting the final nail in Egypt’s illustrious coffin and eliminating the three-time defending champions, the Leone Stars are brimming with hope.

New horizons for rising Stars
Despite the fact that the Pharaohs essentially sent their Olympic team to the match at the National Stadium, the Leoneans struggled to see off their visitors after Marwan Mohsen cancelled out Sheriff Suma’s early goal. However, with the clock edging towards 90 minutes, the inspirational figure of Mohamed Bangura stepped up to convert the winning penalty in the dying minutes after Ibrahim Bangura was felled in the box. It was a dramatic moment that kept alive their hopes and leaves them second in the table on eight points, equal with South Africa and one behind Niger.
We are focused on winning as a group which is our key principle now.
Rodney Strasser, Sierra Leone midfielder

So whether Sierra Leone manage to pull off another shock in the final round of qualifying to reach their first African finals in 15 years, they have proven themselves no soft touch - particularly at home - and they have a collection of fine young talent that could blossom into a golden generation to replace the likes of Mohamed Kallon. Swedish coach Lars-Olof Mattsson has led the team for less than a year and his future is uncertain, but he sees potential in the side. “I think we have a very strong side at the moment,” said Mattsson, who is the second Swede to coach the Leone Stars after Roger Palmgren who led the team to their last AFCON finals. “I've been following the progress of Sierra Leonean footballers in Scandinavia and other countries in Europe. Most of these players are young, and that's good for the Leone Stars.”

This burst of young talent starts with Mohamed Bangura, called ‘Poborsky’ back home. The bustling 22-year-old forward moved to Europe at the start of last year and recently signed for Scotland’s Celtic after being recommended by Swedish and Bhoys great Henrik Larsson, who saw him playing in Sweden last season for AIK Stockholm. Mattsson, who is familiar with both players, compared the two in style and even went so far as to say that Bangura was ahead of Larsson in development at the same age. At AIK, Bangura had been combining well with his namesake and countryman Ibrahim, who has also since moved on to Turkish club Bursaspor, and Leone Stars supporters are anxious for the two to continue their good form at the national team level.

The other great hope for the emerging side is midfielder Rodney Strasser, who is on the books at AC Milan, but is currently on loan at Lecce, where he should get regular playing time. The 21-year-old said recently that the team were coming together in important ways. “We respect each other and see ourselves as Sierra Leoneans with a common objective,” Strasser said. “We are focused on winning as a group which is our key principle now.”

Abreu: We're the continent's best

Abreu: We're the continent's best


Known throughout his career as El Loco (The Madman), thanks to his outgoing character and sense of humour, Sebastian Abreu is not your average football player. The larger-than-life Uruguayan centre-forward has nurtured a gift for the unexpected during his odyssey around the world’s leagues, a gift encapsulated by the coolly chipped penalty he scored to seal Uruguay’s quarter-final shootout win over Ghana at South Africa 2010.

Behind that extrovert exterior, however, lies the analytical mind of a player who has accumulated a deep tactical appreciation of the game, which he hopes to apply from the dugout once his globe-trotting playing career is over.

The enigmatic Uruguayan goal-getter discussed those coaching plans and more in an illuminating and exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

FIFA.com: Sebastian, what’s the key to Uruguay’s recent success?
Sebastian Abreu: The thing we never quite managed to do in the past was to take an idea, a mystique and a certain type of chemistry and turn it into something real. We had good players but they never got support or a decent run in the team. Then, when El Maestro [Oscar] Tabarez came in, we found our identity, and now we’ve got a very clearly defined base and solid tactics. We’re working in the right way and the results have started to come.

What conclusions did you draw from this year’s Copa America triumph?
We needed to achieve some glory and win a title to set the seal on all the hard work we’ve done in the last few years. By winning the trophy we did that, and we did it in a way that made it worth celebrating even more. We beat the host nation and [Lionel] Messi, with a man down after only 27 minutes. We won the semi-final and final in the way that we did, and became the most successful team on the continent. All that makes me feel very happy.

Do you think Uruguay are now the best team in South America?
There’s no doubt about it. We’re the best in terms of results, play and consistency.
The day Uruguay stop showing grit is the day they’ll no longer be Uruguay.
Sebastian Abreu, Uruguay forward.

You’ve said on more than one occasion that you want to go into coaching. Is that still an objective of yours?
I’ve had my mind set on that for many years now. Some of the coaches I’ve worked with have inspired me with little details in training, weekly training programmes and the like, and obviously I’ve been picking things up as I’ve gone along. I’ve always been interested in tactics, and spending time with Pep [Guardiola] and [Juan Manuel] Lillo at Los Dorados, where we had these amazing chats after training, made me want to be a coach. I’ve learned a lot from them and from [Diego] Simeone, [Manuel] Pellegrini, Tabarez, and Botafogo coach [Hugo] de Leon. They’re all modern, dynamic coaches and thanks to them I’ve been able to read games in different ways.

You’ve played in many countries during your career but you’ve never enjoyed sustained success in Europe. Is that something you want to put right?
No, not at all. I was very young when I went to [Deportivo] La Coruna and I played 18 games in my first season. I didn’t figure in the club’s plans, though, and I started to look for teams that suited my game. A few sides from the Americas came in for me and my aim was just to get regular football and hold on to my Uruguay place, which was what really mattered to me. I didn’t lose sleep over coming back, and in any case I went to Real Sociedad a couple of years ago and scored 11 goals in 17 games, which made me happy. I think European football is a bit overrated anyway.

What do you mean by that?
Europe’s not the whole continent. It’s England, Spain, Italy ... well, let’s stop there. In footballing terms Brazil is much stronger than a lot of European teams and is up there with Italy, but it doesn’t get the same recognition because it’s not in the “first world”. The way we look at it is all wrong.

You’ve played in seven countries during your career. Is that because you’re a curious person?
I’ve always looked for a challenge, for a club that fulfils my needs, which is what I’ve found in Botafogo. Unfortunately, it hasn’t always worked out like that, with the exception maybe of La Coruna, who never loaned me out to the same club twice and forced me to discover new places. That’s where that desire to experience new cultures came from.

What career goals do you still have?
To keep on searching for glory, first of all, and to increase the prestige of my club. To carry on playing to the standard I need to stay in the Uruguay team, and being disciplined and professional. I’ve always wanted to take on new challenges, like winning the World Cup for example.

Do you have another Maracanazo (Uruguay’s shock win over the host nation at Brazil 1950) in mind?
No, that’s not something we think about. It’s given meaning to the Uruguay jersey but it’s part of the past now, part of our history and the journey we’ve taken. When you’ve never won the World Cup as a player you don’t go around thinking about who your opponents should be. All you want to do is win trophies. It doesn’t matter whether it’s against Brazil or not.
I’ve always wanted to take on new challenges, like winning the World Cup for example.
Abreu sets his sights high.

You always carry a camera around with you and film things to show your children in the future. Where did you get the idea from?
I’d like to show them the things a football player goes through because a lot of the time we’re seen as these untouchable people. I want them to see the things you don’t usually see on TV, the good times and the bad times and how we like the same things as ordinary people. It’s good for them to see that. You get insults hurled at you sometimes, but at the end of the day you’re just a person with a family, like anyone else.

Are you planning to do anything else with the photos?
During the World Cup the Uruguay players set up the Celeste Foundation to help disadvantaged children through sport. We want to make a documentary about everything that’s happened during Tabarez’s time in charge and we’re sure that people will enjoy it.

Turning back to football now, do you think centre-forwards like you are a dying breed?
The dynamics have changed. The modern-day No9 is a mobile player like Luis Suarez, with no fixed position, and that’s the approach being taken at youth level now. There are penalty-box centre-forwards, but they’re being told at youth level that they have to have other aspects to their game. Those of us who still play in the old way come from another culture, but you have to adapt to today’s game. As soon as I become a coach I’ll take a close look at the role of the classic No9. They don’t always have to be part of the starting line-up but you can switch your tactics around and try to unsettle opposing defences. You can break through the middle, down the wings or hold the ball up for the midfielders coming through.

Uruguay are famous for their 'garra' or 'grit'. In these changing times, do you think the team should move on from that?
The day Uruguay stop showing grit is the day they’ll no longer be Uruguay. We’ve got a solid tactical system, a defence with very compact lines that closes down the space, and the best strikers in the world, which all make a difference obviously. But the grit is there. Look at Luis Suarez. He was fouled 13 times in the Argentina game, one of their players was sent off as a result, and he helped set up a goal. La Celeste will be nowhere if our players ever lose that.

Korean trio out to challenge Asia

Korean trio out to challenge Asia
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The race for continental supremacy in Asia will resume with the AFC Champions League quarter-final, first-leg ties taking place on Wednesday. After a four-month hiatus the eight remaining contenders have enjoyed a chance to prepare for an assault on the continent’s most treasured prize, with the victor to also secure passage to December’s FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

As was the case last year Korea Republic have the most representatives in the last eight, and, having won in both 2009 and 2010, the east Asians are again well placed for more glory. Hoping to break the Korean run are Iran duo Sepahan and Zob Ahan, Japan’s Cerezo Osaka, perennial Saudi challengers Al Ittihad and Qatar’s Al Sadd. Join FIFA.com as we take a close look at four enticing match-ups.

The game
Suwon Bluewings-Zob Ahan
Zob Ahan travel to Suwon seeking to recreate last year’s stunning and unexpected run to the final, where they lost 3-1 to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. At this stage last year Zob Ahan eliminated holders Pohang Steelers 3-2 on aggregate, a proud achievement which the Iranians will undoubtedly use as motivation on their latest trip to Korea.

Having twice conquered Asia, though, it is the Koreans that have the pedigree to go through. Featuring four national team players including their star goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong, the hosts are a formidable side at both domestic and continental level, as evidenced by a thrilling 3-2 victory over Seongnam on the weekend. The visitors, for their part, must improve their leaky defense which saw them concede late goals to draw against both Malavan and Persepolis recently, although upfront they can count on in-form Brazilian marksman Igor Castro, who scored a famous winner against Al Hilal in last year's semi-final.

The other attractions
Jeonbuk Motors and Cerezo Osaka meet once again having already crossed paths in the group stage with each enjoying 1-0 home victories. Both will enter this latest encounter in prolific form, with Jeonbuk crushing Incheon United 4-2 at home to maintain their seven-point lead at the summit of K-League standings, while Cerezo edged out Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a 5-4 thriller on Saturday. Spearheaded by striking veteran Lee Dong-Gook, the visiting Koreans look very much the team to beat but the hosts, having impressed in their continental debut so far, have proved they are more than capable of causing an upset.

Hosts Al Ittihad and FC Seoul have experienced contrasting recent form ahead of their meeting at Jeddah, with the Saudi giants prevailing 5-3 over Al Taawun in their weekend season opener, while the latter fell 2-1 to Daegu FC. Under the recently-returned Dimitri Davidovic and captained by the talismanic Mohammed Noor, Al Ittihad have set their sights firmly on their third Asian title. The Koreans, though only their second continental appearance, undoubtedly have the pedigree to progress through what is shaping as an epic match-up.

Elsewhere, the only game that features non-Korean teams pits Qatar’s Al Sadd against Sepahan, with the Iranian hosts aiming to build on their runners-up performance in 2007. However, the void left by recently departed striking duo Ibrahima Toure and Javad Kazemian has proved hard to fill, with the Iranian champions suffering consecutive defeats in recent domestic outings. With their AFC Asian Cup hero Yusef Ahmed leading the attacking-line, the Qataris are capable of springing a surprise at Isfahan.

Player to watch
Despite making only 9 international appearances with Montenegro, Dejan Damjanovic has enjoyed a highly productive career with FC Seoul, having twice won the top-scorer awards in 2008 and 2009 before steering the capital club to last year’s league championship. The towering forward's goalscoring form could be key if the Koreans are to dispense with two-time champions Ittihad.

The stat
10 - Topping the current Champions League scoring-chart with 6 goals, Suwon striker Ha Tae-Goon is still four goals away from the all-time record set by Gamba Osaka's Leandro in 2009.

What they said
“Jeonbuk is physically stronger than us, but I believe that we are technically and strategically better. We are expecting a victory on Wednesday. There are many young players in our team, but they will give their all to win the game,” Cerezo Osaka coach Levir Culpi

2011 AFC Champions League quarter-finals, first leg:
14 September
Cerezo Osaka-Jeonbuk Motors
Al Ittihad-FC Seoul
Sepahan-Al Sadd
Suwon Bluewings-Zob Ahan

Champions League back with a bang

Champions League back with a bang


The 20th edition of the UEFA Champions League kicks off this week with a round of matches that features two mouthwatering clashes between four past winners. Barcelona face AC Milan on Tuesday, while Benfica host Manchester United on Wednesday.

With the exception of Juventus and Liverpool, all of European football’s heavyweights will take part in this special anniversary edition of the competition. Meanwhile, five clubs – Manchester City, Napoli, Trabzonspor, Otelul Galati and Viktoria Plzen – will all be appearing for the very first time.

The group phase of the competition runs until 7 December, with the final to be held on 19 May 2012 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

The big game
Barcelona - AC Milan, Group H, 13 September 2011, Camp Nou, Barcelona

Tuesday’s match between Barcelona and AC Milan, who are both three-time winners and reigning champions of Spain and Italy respectively, will be the pair’s twelfth meeting. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has unfortunately been ruled out of the clash due to an injury, and will not get a chance to cross swords with Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola. However, the tie should still be fiercely contested.

The teams have four wins and three draws apiece from their past 11 encounters, but a victory would nonetheless be sweet revenge for Barcelona, who are still smarting from their 4-0 defeat in the 1994 final. Alexis Sanchez has been ruled out for two months and will not feature for the Catalans, while AC Milan will be without Gennaro Gattuso, who is serving a five-match ban.

Elsewhere
Group A (Wednesday 14 September)
Villarreal - Bayern Munich
Manchester City – Napoli

Group A has been labelled the ‘group of death’ in some quarters, and all four sides will be aware of the dangers of dropping points at home. Villarreal, still relatively new to the competition, face a stern test against in-form Bayern Munich and the prolific Mario Gomez. The striker has racked up eight goals in his last five outings, including four in Bayern’s recent 7-0 victory over Freiburg. Manchester City have also been red-hot in front of goal, with forwards Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko netting a combined total of 12 goals in four matches. However, manager Roberto Mancini will be wary of resurgent, South American-tinged Napoli, who began their Serie A campaign with a 3-1 away victory against Cesena.

Group B (Wednesday 14 September)
Inter Milan - Trabzonspor
Lille - CSKA Moscow

Inter Milan kick off their Champions League campaign at home to debutants Trabzonspor, who joined the competition as late replacements for Fenerbahce. The Italians will be without new signing Diego Forlan, however, as he is ineligible for the group phase. French champions Lille will be hoping Belgian star Eden Hazard can fire them to a winning start against CSKA Moscow, in a match that will no doubt be crucial in the battle for second place.

Group C (Wednesday 14 September)
Benfica - Manchester United
Basel - Otelul Galati

Forty-three years after Sir Bobby Charlton’s brace sealed their emphatic victory over Benfica in the European Cup final, Manchester United face the Portuguese side once again. United have made a prolific start to the new Premier League campaign, averaging 4.5 goals per match thanks in no small part to the outstanding form of Wayne Rooney. The forward has linked up well with wide-man Nani, who will no doubt relish the return to his native Portugal. Basel face Otelul Galati in the group’s other fixture, with the latter recently crowned champions of Romania for the first time in their 47-year history.

Group D (Wednesday 14 September)
Ajax - Lyon
Dinamo Zagreb - Real Madrid

Dinamo Zagreb return to Champions League action 12 years after their debut appearance, having beaten Malmo in the qualifying play-offs. The Croatians face a tough start to the group, as they host Spanish giants Real Madrid. Ajax face Lyon in the other match in Group D, and there will be a sense of déjà-vu for both sides. The pair met at the Amsterdam Arena at the same stage of the competition nine years ago, a match that Ajax won 2-1.

Group E (Tuesday 13 September)
Chelsea - Bayer Leverkusen
Racing Genk - Valencia

Former Chelsea favourite Michael Ballack returns to Stamford Bridge with Bayer Leverkusen, who, with just two victories from 15 matches, do not have the best record on English soil. Chelsea have topped their first-round group six times out of eight, and new manager Andre Villas-Boas will be keen to add to that record. Genk also have a new boss in the shape of Mario Been, who appears unfazed by the prospect of hosting Valencia. He has also made no secret of his gameplan, declaring: “I am a coach who looks to attack and dominate opponents”.

Group F (Tuesday 13 September)
Olympiacos - Marseille
Borussia Dortmund - Arsenal

Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal find themselves in the same boat ahead of Tuesday’s Group F encounter. Both are short on confidence, and both will be looking for a convincing victory to provide a measure of reassurance. The situation is even more delicate for Marseille, who travel to Greece to take on Olympiacos. The French outfit have made a dismal start to the new season, failing to win any of their first five matches in Ligue 1.

Group G (Tuesday 13 September)
FC Porto - Shakhtar Donetsk
APOEL Nicosia - Zenit St Petersburg

The main event in Group G sees two recent UEFA Europa League champions go head-to-head. Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk won the competition in 2011 and 2009 respectively, and the pair are strong contenders to secure the group’s two qualifying berths. Meanwhile, Zenit St Petersburg are away to APOEL Nicosia, who will no doubt be keen to showcase the positive progress of Cypriot football.

Group H (Tuesday 13 September)
Barcelona - AC Milan
Viktoria Plzen - BATE Borisov

Holders Barcelona face fellow group giants AC Milan, while plucky first-time qualifiers Viktoria Plzen and the more experienced BATE Borisov will both be looking for a positive start to the tournament.

Player to watch
Mikel Arteta faces a somewhat daunting challenge at Arsenal. The 29-year-old is charged with becoming a leader in a team under reconstruction, and has the responsibility of taking over playmaking duties from the departed duo of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Arteta came through the youth ranks at Barcelona and had spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers and Real Sociedad – the club he supported as a child – before spending six seasons with Everton. Arsene Wenger will be looking to the midfielder to be Arsenal's attacking hub this season, and to guide a side full of ambition but still lacking in experience.

The stat
10 – The number of past Champions League winners that have qualified for the 20th edition of the competition. They are: Marseille; AC Milan; Ajax; Borussia Dortmund; Real Madrid; Manchester United; Bayern Munich; Porto; Inter Milan and current holders Barcelona.

The words
“When a player hears the (Champions League) anthem before a match, he fills with adrenaline because he knows there’s nothing better. The Champions League is the pinnacle for a player, and the highest level there is. The players are fully motivated whether they’re up against Manchester United or Basel,” Benfica manager Jorge Jesus.

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