CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS (25/11/14 & 26/11/14)

Wednesday, 26/11/14

Group A

Atletico Madrid     4   -   0   Olympiakos
Malmo  FF             0   -   2   Juventus

Group  B

Basel                      0   -   1    Real Madrid
Ludogaret              2   -   2    Liverpool

Group  C

Leverkusen           0   -   1    Monaco
Zenit Petersburg   1   -   0    Benfica

Group  D

Arsenal                2   -   0    Dortmund
Anderlecht           2   -   0    Galatasaray

Aresenal Players celebrating a goal

 

 

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Tuesaday,  25/11/14

Group  E

CSKA                  1   -   1    Roma
Man City             3   -   2    Bayern

Group  F

Apoel Nicosia     0   -   4    Barcelona
PSG                     3   -   1    Ajax

Group  G

Schalke               0   -   5    Chelsea
Sporting              3   -   1    NK  Maribor

Group  H

Bate Borisov        0   -   3   Porto
Shaktar Donetsk  0   -   1   Athletic Bilbao 

Read also: Africanfootie. blogspot.com

 

MESSI's AMAZING RECORD STATs

Without any equivocation one can say that Lionel Messi, the Barcelona and Argentine international superstar is a phenomenon in the footballing world.

He has been hell bent on breaking record after record, year in year out, both in the Spanish League, where he plays and in Europe.

And at just 27 years of age, it seem inevitable that the world is yet to see his best. 

Lionel Messi

The dominitive, exceptionally, skillful and highly talented player is something of an enigma to many football lovers. Players like him have been a massive blessing to the game of football.

And they seem to come one or two in a generation. In this generation of players, football fans are blessed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Amazing and tantalizing to watch both play the beautiful game.

His hat-trick in Barcelona's 4 - 0 thrashing of Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League, placed him at the apex of UCL top scorers.

Before Tuesday's match, he shared the top spot with Real Madrid's legend, Raul Gonzalez, at 71 goals. But now he is all alone on top with 74 goals. Ronaldo is third with 70 goals.

MESSI's FULL RECORD STATs

Champions League top scorer:                    74 goals
Barcelona's top scorer:                                 368 goals
Most Goals in a sesaon:                               73
Most Ballon d'Or titles                                 4
Most European Cup top scorer Awards:      4
(Shared with Gerd Muller)
Most La Liga Hat-tricks in a season:            8
Most goals in a calendar year:                      91
La Liga top Scorer:                                       253
Most goals in a La Liga season:                   50
Most consecutive La Liga matches scored:  21
Most goals in a single European Cup game: 5
(Shared with Luis Adriano)
Most goals scored in clasicos:                       21
Most goals in club World Cup:                     4
(Shared with Denilson).

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Lewis Hamilton

The British Lewis Hamilton has clinched his second formula one Championship after winning th elast race of the year - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate, and title rival, Nico Rosberg, started in second position. But the Brit immediately after the race began over took Rosberg
in the first lap and never looked back again until the finish line. Rosberg's car had mechanical problem during the race and managed to finish 14th, but ended the season in a second position to Hamilton.

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Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid and Spain international goalkeeper has been nominated in the goalkeepers shortlist for Fifa's Fifpro 2014 World XI to the surprise of many in the football community. He had a terrible time at the Brazil World Cup, and not many play time in the league. Others on the list are Bayern Munich and German international keeper, Manuel Neuer, Chelsea and Belgium international keeper, Thibaut Courtois, the Juventus and Italian international keeper, Gianluigi Buffon, and Barcelona and Chile international, Claudio Bravo.

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The WBA Pan African junior welterweight Champion, Paul Kamanga, had successfully defended his title on a 12 round bouts against ex - South African and IBO Junior welterweight champion Kaizer Mabuza at the Kibler Park Recreation Centre not far from Johannesburg on Saturday.
The 21 year old Kamanga was too fast for the 33 year old veteran Mabuza as he reeled out points after points against the Kaizer. The youngster won the fight comfortably.

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Manny Pacquiao (Pacman), the WBO welterweight champion, defeated Chris Algieri, the WBO junior welterweight champion in a unanimous decision on Sunday, at the Venetian Resort in Macao, China. It was a one - sided fight, in which the Pacman dorminated the fight from start to finish. Algieri who was before the bout, unbeaten, went down to the canvas six times. The judges scored the fight  for Pacquiao 119 - 103, 119 - 103, and 120 - 102.

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The Spanish giant and the 10 times European Champions League winners, Real Madrid, will participate in the 2015 pre-season Melbourne International tournament, which will be held at the 100,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket ground. The football tournament will include other big European teams such as Manchester City and Inter Milan etc. The organizers of the tournament said that they will announce in due course other teams that will be participating in the event.
It will be played in a round robin system and will be from July 18 to 24. Liverpool took part in this year's event.

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Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis legend has finally won the Davis Cup title with his Swiss team-mates by beating France in the final on Sunday. Switzerland began the Sunday's singles matches with a 2 - 1 lead and just neededa single point to lift the title. Federer beat Richard Gasquet in three straight sets of 6 - 4, 6 - 2, 6 - 2 in Lille. Roger has won every title in tennis except the Davis Cup and now he has done that too. The 17 time Grand Slam winner said emotionally later, ''This is a great historic moment for our country. It's an enormous pleasure for me. I've waited 15 years for this.'' This is the first Davis Cup title for Switzerland while France had won it 9 times.

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

Sports News In Brief

Leroy Fer, the Queens Park Rangers and Dutch international was last weekend, the target of racial attack in the social media, after he posted a selfie picture he took with other black footballers. Some of the players in the photo were, kenneth Vermeer, Quincy Promes, Memphis Depay etc. The Justice Ministry has promised to investigate the matter and the people involved in it. The Dutch Football Associattion (KNVB) has also expressed interest in the matter. The national team (Oranje) captain and Man United player, Robin van Persie, said in the media, that he was sad and shocked that this kind of barberism is still happening in 2014. He said that all the national players are one and that it does not matter what colour a player has. Other Oranje players such as Wesley Snijder has spoken in support of their team-mate Leroy Fer.

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                                      Enzo Zidane

Enzo Zidane, the 19 year old son of the Real Madrid legend and former France international, Zinedine Zidane played in the Real Madrid 'B' team which defeated Conquense 2 - 1 on Sunday in the Spanish Segunda League. The young Enzo was a substitute but when he came in he showed that he was the son of the legendary Zidane. He has some of his Father's skills and talent, (the dribble and roullete spin).
Enzo was named after the Uruguay football legend Enzo Francescoli. Zidane jr has already played for the Spanish national Under - 15 team but has now switched to France. He is a midfielder like his famous father. Zinedine Zidane is the coach of the team. His other sons Luca, Theo and Eliaz attended Real Madrid's academy.

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Ilhan Cavcav (80), the chairman of the Turkish football club, Genclerbirligi has expressed his anger at players who spot beard, by declaring that any player in his club who fail to shave his beard will be fined 25,000 Turkish Lira which is the  equivelent of €9,000. He said the players are professional footballers and not trainee imams. He said that the footballers are failing in their duty to set good examples for the young kids. Mr Cavcav told the Dogan News Agency, ''I am 80 years, and I shave every single day.''
He tried to get the chairman of the Turkish League to impose the ban nationwide on all players but he said that the chairman, Mr demiroren told him that Uefa doesn't allow them to so.

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The Dutch player, Quincy Promes, who plys his football career with Spartak Moscow said that russia is not the best place to live. He said that racism is everywhere there and is most probable more in Russia than other European countries.
Promes also said that there is racism in some areas of Netherlands. His team which is not playing in the European competitions is currently at the 8th position of the Russia league.

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The former English Football Association (EFA), chairman David Bernstein said that Uefa should boycott the next World Cup unless Fifa carry out a meaningful reform. He said that it was time to take a drastic action against the world football governing body. But he recognised that fact that England cannot do it alone, that was why he suggested doing it through Uefa. ''England on its own cannot influence this. If we tried something like that, we'd be laughed at,'' Bernstein told the BBC. He said that Germany, Italy, France and Holland are "all powerful" football nations and you cannot have a serious World Cup without them, that is if Uefa boycott the next World Cup. He advised that Uefa should use their clout to force Fifa to carry out the over due reform.

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

FOOTIE TRANSFER TALK

Manchester United pacey winger Nani has rejected the opportunity to return to his club during the January open transfer window. At the beginning of this season, the portuguese was loaned out for the season to Sporting Lisbon, where he has been enjoying a rejuvination in form. He is playing in the Champions League with Sporting while Man United is not playing in the Champions League.
Source: O Jogo. 

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Gareth Bale, the world's most expensive player who joined Real Madrid last season from Tottenham on a €100m transfer fee, is now being targeted by a number of top clubs for yet another big transfer. Clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United etc are being rumoured to be interested in signing the gifted player as he is not guaranteed a starting spot in the team under coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Source: Daily Express.

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It is reported that, Andrej Kramaric (23), the hot Croatian international, who plays for the Croatian club - HNK Rijeka, and has been a transfer target of the Dutch giant club, Feyenoord since last season, will prefer to join a big Serie A club such as AC Milan or Inter Milan. Feyenoord technical director, Martin van Geel, said that Rijeka did not want to lose their top striker. Kramaric is on top of his game both in the local league and the Europa League. He has scored 21 goals out of 14 games this season so far. Amazing stats.

             ***     ****    ***

Ajax is still waiting on two of their top players to decide whether to extend their contracts with the club or not. Lasse Schone and Stefano Denswil are taking their time to probably weigh up their options. Denswil has been offered a new contract that will last up to 2018, but is yet to sign it.
Source: Voetbal International

            ***      ****      ***

The Sun paper wrote that Chelsea is planning to sell the German international and World Cup winner, Andre Schurrle in January due to the fact that he has been struggling with his form since the season began. According to the write up, the manager, Jose Mourinho wants to use the money realised from the sell to buy another player.
Source: The Sun

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According to the London Metro, Arsenal are now ready to pay €40m for the German international and Dortmund defender, Mats Hummels. The North London club is happy that the player wants to join the club. After the World Cup it was reported in the media that he did not want to leave Borussia Dortmund, but the case is different now.
Source: Metro.

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOP TEN SCORERS IN HISTORY

The Champions League was established in 1955 by the European football governing body, UEFA, as the European Champion Clubs' Cup for top European Leagues Champions to compete for, in order to produce a champion of the continent.

Prior to 1992 when Uefa changed the name of the competition to its current name of Champions League, it was commonly called the European Cup or European Champions Cup.



Lionel Messi of Barcelona

Before 1990 the competition was played on a knockout basis among the Champions of each country's top league.

It was at this juncture that Uefa introduced the round robin system by increasing the number of participating clubs.

More clubs that finished among the few on top of every league qualified to participate in the competition.

But the number of clubs from each country is dependent on the size and quality of their league.

For some years the Real Madrid legend Raul had the record of being the highest goal scorer at 71 goals followed by Ronaldo at 70 goals and at the 3rd position was Messi with 69 goals.

But on Wednesday, Lionel Messi scored two goals against Ajax to share the top position with Raul. Cristiano Ronaldo had fail to score in Real Madrid's game against Liverpool at the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday to increase his tally.

Without much ado, here are the names of the top champions league scorers under its current name.

Champions League top 10 scorers

Names                     Club/Country                       Goals

1. Raul                     Real M/Schalke/Spain         71

1. Messi                   Barcelona/Argentina            71

2. Ronaldo               Real M/ Man U/Portugal     70

3. Van Nistelrooy    Man U/Real M/Holland       56

4.  Henry                 Arsenal/Barcelona/France    50

5.  Shevchenko        D.kiev/Milan/Chelsea          48

6.  Inzaghi F.            Milan/Juventus/Italy            46

7.  Drogba                Marseille/Chelsea                43

8.  Del Piero             Juventus/Italy                      41

     Benzema              Lyon/RealM/France           41
     
     Ibrahimovic         Ajax/Milans/PSG etc          41

9.  Morientes             Real M/Liverpool etc         33

10. Etoo                     Barcelona/Inter etc             30

10. Kaka                    Real Madrid/Milan             30

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS (TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY 4&5/11/14)

Tuesday:

Manuel Pellegrini coach of Man City

Group  A

Juventus         3   -    2    Olympiakos
Malmo FF      0   -    2    Atletico Madrid

Group  B

Basel              4   -    0    Ludogarets Raz.
Real Madrid   1   -    0    Liverpool

Group  C

Zenit Petersburg  1  -    2   Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica                1   -   0    Monaco

Group  D

Arsenal                3   -    3   Anderlecht
B. Dortmund       4   -    1   Galatasaray

Wednesday:

Group  E

Bayern              2   -    0    Roma
Man City          1   -    2    CSKA

Group  F

Ajax                 0   -    2    Barcelona
PSG                 1   -    0    Apoel Nicosia

Group  G

NK Maribor     1  -   1    Chelsea
Sporting           4   -  2    Schalke

Group  H

Athletic Bilbao    0  -   2   Porto
Shaktar Donetsk  5  -   0   Bate Borisov

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com

SOME EUROPEAN WEEKEND LEAGUE RESULTS

Dutch Eredivisie

Ajax              4  -  0   Dordrecht
Feyenoord     2  -  0   Zwolle
PSV               1  -  0   Ado Den Haag
Twente          2  -  0   Heerenveen
Groningen     1  -  0   NAC Breda
AZ Alkmaar  3  -  3   Excelsior
G.A Eagles    1  -  3   Heracles
Willem 11      1  -  1   Cambuur
Utrecht           3  -  1   Vitesse

EPL

Aston Villa    1  -  2   Tottenham
Man City       1  -  0    Man United
Arsenal          3  -  0    Burnley
Chelsea          2  -  1    QPR
Everton          0  -  0    Swansea
Hull                0  -  1    Soton
Leicester        0  -  1    West Brom
Newcastle      1  -  0    Liverpool
Stoke              2  -  2    West Ham

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid

French Ligue 1

Monaco         1  -  1    Reims
Nantes           1  -  1    Rennes
Lorient          1  -  2    PSG
Bordeaux      2  -  1    Toulouse
Guingamp     1  -  0    Bastia
Lille              1  -  1    St Etienne
Metz             3  -  2    Caen
Montpellier  2  -  0     Evian Thonon
Nice              1  -  3    Lyon
Marseille          -         Lens

Spanish La Liga

Deportivo            1  -  2   Getafe
Barcelona            0  -  1   Celta de Vigo
Atletico Madrid    4  -  2   Cordoba
Granada               0  -  4   Real Madrid
Real Sociedad      0  -  1   Malaga
Athletic Bilbao    1  -  0   Sevilla
Villarreal             1  -  3    Valencia
Levante                2  -  1   Almeria
Elche                        -       Espanyol

German Bundesliga

Bayern               2  -  1    Dortmund
Hannover           1  -  0    Frankfurt
Hamburg            1  -  0    Leverkusen
Mainz                 1  -  2    Werder Bremen
M'gladbach         3  -  1    Hoffenheim
Koln                    0  -  1    SC Freiburg
Paderborn            3  -  1    Hertha
Schalke                1  -  0    Augsburg
Stuttgart               0  -  4    Wolfsburg

Italian Serie A

Empoli               0  -  2    Juventus
Chievo               0  -  0    Sassuolo
Parma                 2  -  0    Inter
Napoli                2  -  0    Roma
Torino                0  -  0    Atalanta
Sampdoria          3  -  1    Fiorentina
Udinese              2  -  4    Genoa
Verona               1  -  1     Lazio
Milan                      -        Palermo


Portuguese Premeira Liga

Benfica                    1  -  0   Rio Ave
Penafiel                   1  -  2   Estoril Praia
Vitoria Guimaeres   3  -  0   Sporting
Porto                        2  -  0   Nacional
Gil Vicente              1  -  1   Arouca
Maritimo                  1  -  2   Moreirense
Pacos de Ferreira     4  -  1   Vitoria Setubal
Academica               0  -  0    Sporting Braga

Read also: Africanfootie.blogspot.com