European Soccer News
We keep you update on the latest happening on the European soccer scenes.
Football in Brief: Pompey set for Europa misery after failure to apply for Uefa licence
Portsmouth will not be eligible to play in the Europa League next season should they reach the FA Cup final, as they have not applied for a Uefa club licence.
(read more)Hoffenheim slide alarms owner
Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp has demanded an explanation for his side's pitiful performance at the weekend. A 1-0 defeat at home to Mainz has left Hoffenheim's ambitions of European football next season in tatters and Hopp would like to know why his team is performing as poorly as it is.
(read more)'Beating Milan is a step forward'
Milan and Manchester are similar cities: northern, industrial, defiantly at odds with their capitals and possessed of an unmistakable style.
(read more)Robben’s rocket stifles Fiorentina celebrations
A stunning strike from Arjen Robben fired Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of an unlucky Fiorentina at a wet and windy Stadio Artemio Franchi last night.
(read more)Ronaldo admits Lyons game will be 'do or die'
When you've spent the sort of cash that Real Madrid have in the summer months, elimination from Europe's wealthiest competition at the first knock-out stage is not really supposed to be on the agenda. As Cristiano Ronaldo neatly summed it up, his side's Champions League last-16 return leg against Lyons at the Bernabeu tonight is a "do-or-die" match.
(read more)Everyone loves a Dane after Bendtner's hat-trick
The odds on Nicklas Bendtner scoring a hat-trick against Porto were shorter than those of finding an alien life-form, but not by all that much. Bookmakers offer about 100-1 that we will discover the existence of intelligent extra-terrestrial life. Last night the odds on Bendtner scoring his first hat-trick in senior football against the Portuguese champions were 40-1.
(read more)Red tide sweeps Porto aside
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, expressed his desire to play either Manchester United or Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after seeing his team book their place in the last eight with a spectacular 5-0 victory over Porto.
(read more)Nasri wonder goal caps a European night to savour
Arsene Wenger had asked his team for a result last night that was against the odds. They gave him a performance from the gods.
(read more)Arsenal coast through against Porto
Nicklas Bendtner grabbed a hat-trick as Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an emphatic victory over Porto at the Emirates Stadium.
(read more)Beckham-mania returns to Manchester
David Beckham was greeted by a scrum of fans and media this afternoon as he arrived at Manchester Airport ahead of his much-anticipated return to Old Trafford.
(read more)Rooney returns to Manchester United training
Wayne Rooney has provided Manchester United with a timely Champions League boost by taking part in training ahead of tomorrow's encounter with AC Milan.
(read more)Wenger gives backing to Bendtner
Arsene Wenger has every confidence in Nicklas Bendtner - and hopes the young Denmark striker can help fire Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over Porto tonight.
(read more)Goalkeeper Lehmann looks set to retire
Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is likely to retire in the summer after confirming he won't be extending his contract at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
(read more)United must resist threat of Borriello, says Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson has pinpointed Milan's striker Marco Borriello as a serious threat to his side ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie with the Italians at Old Trafford tomorrow night. The 27-year-old was injured when United won 3-2 in San Siro, setting up a strong chance of progress to the quarter-finals, but Ferguson has said he believes the well-travelled Borriello could make "a big difference".
(read more)Fabregas will miss Porto game
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, challenged his team to "make history" tonight by overturning a 2-1 deficit from the first leg when they host Porto in the Champions League.
(read more)Are Arsenal's understudies strong enough?
The damage to Cesc Fabregas's hamstring is only minor, Arsène Wenger was at pains to point out yesterday. But the damage to Arsenal hopes of progressing further in the Champions League could be far more serious. Fabregas was yesterday described as "the spirit of the team" by Arsenal's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, an observation which understates the influence the 22-year-old exerts.
(read more)Ronaldo confident of Real Madrid victory
Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that Real Madrid, with the help of their fans, will break with recent tradition and progress through to the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Lyon this week.
(read more)Fabregas absence no excuse says Wenger
Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal cannot use the absence of injured captain Cesc Fabregas as an excuse for failure in tomorrow night's crunch Champions League clash with Porto at Emirates Stadium.
(read more)Fabregas will miss Porto clash
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of tomorrow's Champions League clash with Porto because of a hamstring problem.
(read more)Bayern Munich future will be decided in weeks says Ribery
Bayern Munich’s French ace Franck Ribery has stated that he will make a decision about his future in the next few weeks.
(read more)Berbatov poised to face AC Milan
Dimitar Berbatov could take a key role in Manchester United's Champions League clash with AC Milan on Wednesday if the Red Devils are without first-leg hero Wayne Rooney.
(read more)Eurozone: Barça lose leadership after comedy of errors
It was like watching royalty stumble – the elegance with which Barcelona are associated made their undignified draw in Almeria all the more unsightly. First came coach Pep Guardiola's red card for arguing with a linesman about a penalty not given, then Carlos Puyol put through his own goal trying to clear a cross and finally Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for pushing in the penalty area – an unmerited punishment but one which rules him out of this week's visit of Valencia.
(read more)Time to see the Real deal
You can picture the scene now. On 22 May in the Bernabeu stadium Florentino Perez is smiling through gritted teeth at the chairmen of the two clubs contesting the Champions League final. Maybe it is Manchester United, the club who sold him Cristiano Ronaldo, or the eternal rivals Barcelona, or Bayern Munich who refused to sell him Franck Ribéry. You can imagine the consternation if it isn't Real Madrid, the club who spent £250m last summer and then aren't invited to the season's gala event ... even though it's taking place on their own lawn.
(read more)Beckham hoping to prove form before Old Trafford visit
David Beckham could be handed one last Old Trafford audition as an injury-hit Milan go into the first of the two games that will go a long way to deciding their season tonight when they travel to face third-placed Roma. The former England captain will hope that Leonardo picks him ahead of Ignazio Abate as he looks to cover the absence of striker Alexandre Pato.
(read more)Milan sweat on fitness of Pato ahead of Manchester United clash
AC Milan will have to wait until next week before discovering whether Alexandre Pato will be fit to face Manchester United in the Champions League.
(read more)English clubs face Uefa ban if they fail to balance books
Premier League clubs will have five more years to put their financial house in order before facing the possibility of expulsion from European competitions. The European Clubs' Association, which represents 144 clubs, has agreed new licensing rules with Uefa, under which clubs cannot spend more money than they receive; but figures will be worked out over a three-year period, not a single season, and no sanctions will be brought in until 2015.
(read more)Inter Milan dismiss Mourinho to Real Madrid rumours
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has no doubt Jose Mourinho will remain at the San Siro next season despite reports linking the Portuguese coach with a move to Real Madrid.
(read more)Euro Zone: Mourinho forced to celebrate in stands
As Chelsea appear to falter under a cloud of scandal and injury, their Champions League opponents Internazionale are thriving in adversity in Serie A. Jose Mourinho, banished to the stands for three games after complaints about refereeing, watched his injury- and suspension-hit side win 3-2 at Udinese yesterday to stay four points clear of Milan who beat Atalanta 3-1 but lost striker Alexandre Pato to injury near the end.
(read more)Beckham hopes to secure Old Trafford start
David Beckham will have the chance to play his way into Milan coach Leonardo's team to face Manchester United in two weeks' time when he starts tomorrow's home Serie A game with second from bottom Atlanta.
(read more)Hodgson counts cost of Europa success
Roy Hodgson was today contemplating an expensive, if historic night for Fulham after their Europa League exploits against Shakhtar Donetsk.
(read more)Mascherano rallies shaky Liverpool
Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, was pleased with the character shown by his side after they bounced back from the shock of conceding an early goal to Unirea Urziceni in Romania to earn a place in the last 16 of the Europa League comfortably last night.
(read more)Hangeland inspires Fulham to win over Shakhtar
Brede Hangeland was the hero on a European glory night for Fulham as they stunned Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the last 16 of the Europa League.
(read more)Mourinho: I hope Cech misses return
Jose Mourinho, the Internazionale manager, said yesterday he hopes Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech's recovery from his calf injury is slow enough to ensure he misses the return leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on 16 March.
(read more)Fernandez crushes Everton's last hope
Most British people relish a trip to sunny Portugal, but not poor old David Moyes. Having seen his Everton side trounced 5-0 earlier this season by Benfica, he watched the Toffeemen crumble to a 3-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon last night. It was hardly what he would have hoped for on the back of the club's recent victory against Manchester United, but on the balance on play it was a fair result, as he admitted.
(read more)Mourinho launches attack on Italian game
At the end of a turbulent few days in which Jose Mourinho has suggested he is being rounded upon, the Inter Milan coach last night delivered a scathing attack on the Italian game.
(read more)Benitez fields bizarre questions in Romania
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez fielded questions about his match preparation, his future and - bizarrely - his weight on his arrival in Bucharest last night but will hope his team provide the most important answer against Unirea Urziceni.
(read more)Hangeland says Fulham can progress in Europe
Brede Hangeland admits Fulham are in bonus land as they stand on the brink of the last 16 of the Europa League - but insists they can go all the way in the competition.
(read more)Moyes prepared to use Jagielka
Everton manager David Moyes will monitor Phil Jagielka's fitness in the hours leading up to the Europa League match against Sporting Lisbon tonight.
(read more)Drogba fails to outwit his mentor
It was the Champions League that did for Jose Mourinho as manager of Chelsea and he does not intend the competition to be the instrument of his downfall in Milan. Winning the domestic league, as Internazionale seem certain to do again in Mourinho's second season, is soon taken for granted, just as it was at Stamford Bridge. Roman Abramovich wanted more than that and as soon as a poor 1-1 draw at home to Rosenborg of Norway in September 2007, watched by fewer than 25,000, followed a goalless draw at home to Blackburn, the owner made his feelings known as the two men passed in a corridor. Mourinho, not a biter of tongues, answered back and little more than 24 hours later he was gone.
(read more)Mourinho confident of landing knockout blow
Jose Mourinho predicted his Internazionale side will knock Chelsea out of the Champions League following their 2-1 victory in the Champions League last-16 first leg last night because Stamford Bridge is a "lucky" ground for him.
(read more)Benayoun vows to prove worth
It is a year to the day since Liverpool, then the continent's command team of the moment, beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Bernabeu, with Yossi Benayoun's first signalling his emergence as one of the side's leading forces with the decisive Champions League goal.
(read more)Draw gives Ibrahimovic satisfaction
The Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic described his side's 1-1 draw with Stuttgart as a "good result" after seeing the Champions League holders fight back well from a first-half onslaught by the German team on Tuesday night.
(read more)Cambiasso strike secures slim advantage for Inter
Europe is still proving to be Chelsea's Achilles' heel. They produced some great football at times against Internazionale last night, enjoying the bulk of the possession and creating by far the greater number of attempts on goal, but they were ultimately undone by the man out of whose shadow they still struggle to emerge.
(read more)Bordeaux find vintage European form
Laurent Blanc was a relieved man after seeing his Bordeaux side finally deliver a performance befitting their championship-winning status on Tuesday night.
(read more)I made Chelsea's stars insists Mourinho
Jose Mourinho claims he made Chelsea's stars the players they are today during his time at the club.
(read more)Troubled Terry focused on Champions League
John Terry insists he has put his troubles behind him and is solely focused on winning honours with Chelsea and England.
(read more)Gross frustrated by Barcelona draw
Stuttgart coach Christian Gross was left to rue several missed chances as his side drew 1-1 at home to Barcelona in the Champions League last night.
(read more)Adriano backs Seville to progress
The Seville wing-back Adriano has told his team-mates they cannot afford to fail in their Champions League last-16 game with CSKA Moscow tonight.
(read more)Sneijder latest Dutch master to grace the city of Milan
There is a chequered recent history where Dutch players in Milan are concerned. Andy van der Meyde, who was with Internazionale from 2003 to 2005 before leaving for his spectacularly uncelebrated four years at Everton, is remembered more for a decision to buy his wife a zebra from a zoo in Varese than anything he achieved inside San Siro.
(read more)Mourinho craves European parity with old adversary
Within 10 minutes of Chelsea's flight to Milan yesterday morning, Carlo Ancelotti nodded off. A brief chat with journalists on the plane had to be postponed while the Chelsea manager enjoyed a quick 40 winks. If Ancelotti was nervous about returning to the city where he made his name, to face his managerial nemesis, he certainly was not showing it. Or perhaps he had been losing sleep about coming up against Jose Mourinho again.
(read more)Ibrahimovic gives Barça the edge
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half equaliser earned Champions League holders Barcelona a hard-fought draw from the first leg of their last-16 tie against Stuttgart last night. Cacau, fresh from his four-goal haul against Cologne at the weekend, had given Stuttgart a deserved half-time lead but Ibrahimovic struck just after the interval to put Barça in charge heading into the second leg at the Nou Camp.
(read more)Ancelotti has it in for me, claims furious Mourinho
Jose Mourinho, the Internazionale manager, ignited another major row with Carlo Ancelotti, ahead of tonight's Champions League last-16 first leg at San Siro, when he accused the Chelsea coach of being part of a "clan" of Italians that regularly gangs up on him.
(read more)Ibrahimovic away goal gives Barca edge over Stuttgart
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half equaliser earned Champions League holders Barcelona a hard-fought draw from the first leg of their last-16 tie against Stuttgart tonight.
(read more)Alonso row with Ronaldo played down
Real Madrid's leading scorer Gonzalo Higuain has played down the penalty row between Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo during the 6-2 win over Villarreal.
(read more)Ancelotti says Italians want Chelsea to win
Carlo Ancelotti claims all neutral Italian football fans will want Chelsea to beat Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in their Champions League meeting at the San Siro tomorrow night.
(read more)Inter Milan to appeal Mourinho ban
Inter Milan have announced they will appeal against the three-match ban imposed on manager Jose Mourinho as well as the suspensions awarded to Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari by the Lega Calcio.
(read more)Gross collects his dream ticket to take on Barcelona
Christian Gross might just have found his dream ticket. Thirteen years after launching his ill-fated spell at Tottenham by brandishing a tube pass and talking of the great things he aimed to achieve at White Hart Lane, the Swiss will send his revitalised Stuttgart side out to take on Barcelona, the continent's best, in the last 16 of the Champions League. Spurs, meanwhile, are preparing for an FA Cup replay against Bolton.
(read more)Matt Derbyshire: 'I've got the beach, the pool... you can't pop out in Lancashire and find that'
You can take the man out of Lancashire but you can't take Lancashire out of the man. Matt Derbyshire may have developed a taste for Greek cuisine since arriving in Athens a year ago but talk of the local pies gets short shrift: "It's not a Holland's meat and potato, is it?"
(read more)All eyes on Mourinho
It is the occasion when Jose Mourinho will be reacquainted once again with the English experience he so cherished and so clearly misses. The last time the Portuguese had a large clutch of British journalists in attendance, as he will ahead of the first leg of Internazionale's Champions League tie with Chelsea, was at Old Trafford last March, when he barely sought to disguise how much he coveted a return to the Premier League. "In Italy, there is a bit of a drama in difficult moments," Mourinho said that afternoon. "Football [in Britain] is never drama. It is always passion and pleasure." Of Old Trafford, he said: "It looks like home."
(read more)Mourinho handed three-game ban for handcuffs gesture
Jose Mourinho has been given a three-match ban and fined 40,000 euros following his handcuffs gesture during Saturday's match with Sampdoria in which two Inter Milan players were sent off.
(read more)Real Madrid coach denies rift with board
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has rubbished talk of a rift between himself and members of the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy.
(read more)Mourinho questions Chelsea strength
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has stoked the fire ahead of his side's Champions League last 16 clash with Chelsea by claiming a "strong" team would not have dropped the number of points the Blues have this season.
(read more)Eurozone: Nine-man Inter save Mourinho's home record
It will be eight years and a day since Jose Mourinho last lost a League home game when Chelsea face Internazionale on Wednesday night. The unbeaten record does not extend to European competition but underlines the size of the task awaiting Carlo Ancelotti's men at San Siro.
(read more)Salomon Kalou: Chelsea's family man makes himself at home
An hour at the home of a Chelsea footballer would not be most people's idea of a breath of fresh air, but for anyone tiring of Ashley and Cheryl, Terry and Toni – will they, won't they, did they or didn't they, do we care? – coffee chez Salomon Kalou is just that; and not only because the air in leafy Surrey is fresher than most.
(read more)Porto referee was 'a joke' says Wenger
Arsene Wenger risked censure from Uefa yesterday by renewing his attack on the Swedish referee Martin Hansson, saying that the Swedish official who allowed Porto's controversial winner against Arsenal to stand on Wednesday night had made "a complete joke" of the Champions League.
(read more)Mourinho linked to Madrid as Pellegrini feels the heat
The Real Madrid coach, Manuel Pellegrini, faces his former club Villarreal tomorrow and perhaps sometimes wishes he had never left. He was heavily criticised for the 1-0 defeat away to Lyons in the Champions League this week and woke up yesterday to stories of Jose Mourinho being lined up to take over from him at the end of the season.
(read more)Adriano open to Italy return
Former Internazionale and Parma striker Adriano has stated that he would welcome a return to Italy, with Roma his favoured destination.
(read more)Pique expects Fabregas to join Barcelona
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique is confident that Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will head back to the Camp Nou in the future, maybe as soon as next summer.
(read more)Benitez predicts tough European campaign
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned the club's Europa League campaign may be something of a war of attrition.
(read more)'This is your apologetic Arsenal captain speaking...'
As the Boeing 757 carrying the Arsenal squad home late on Wednesday night gained altitude over the Portuguese countryside on its way back to Luton, the Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, had something he wanted to say.
(read more)Zamora strike puts Fulham in charge
Bobby Zamora's outstanding second-half goal ensured Fulham will travel to Donetsk next week backed by a slender advantage following a victory manager Roy Hodgson believes marks the remarkable progress made by the club over the last two years.
(read more)Ngog stoops to conquer as Liverpool lower their sights
The home fans kept the faith, with 41,000 tickets sold and not one of the red contingent cowed by news that Unirea had broken their duck on English soil in recent days with a 1-0 win in a practice match at Northwich Victoria. But any thoughts of Liverpool gaining instant encouragement from their descent to a place among Europe's also-rans were hastily put aside last night.
(read more)Zamora's winner puts Fulham in driving seat
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora struck a brilliant winner to round off a miserable trip to London for Europa League champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
(read more)Late Ngog strike gives Reds advantage
Striker David Ngog's goal nine minutes from time eventually broke the resistance of a determined Unirea Urziceni at Anfield in the Europa League.
(read more)Eto'o admits to missing life in Spain
Former Barcelona striker Sauel Eto'o has admitted he is missing life in Spain after making a summer move to Italian side Internazionale.
(read more)Wenger confident Arsenal will prevail
Arsene Wenger may have been less than impressed by the manner of Arsenal's 2-1 Champions League defeat in Porto, but maintains the tie is still very much alive.
(read more)Arbeloa orders Madrid to regain focus
Real Madrid have little time to dwell on their midweek disappointment against Lyon as they prepare to face Villarreal on Sunday in the first of what could prove a decisive run of home matches.
(read more)Spain's media rounds on Real after Lyons lesson
Real Madrid's hopes of winning a 10th European Cup in this year's final at the Bernabeu suffered a blow with their 1-0 Champions League last-16 defeat away to Lyons on Tuesday evening.
(read more)Brede Hangeland: 'Shakhtar will be tough – but I enjoy physical games'
When Shakhtar Donetsk line up at Craven Cottage tonight the first thing they will notice about Fulham's central defender Brede Hangeland is his height. At 6ft 5in it is everyone's first impression. The day after he signed, Hangeland watched his new team play Arsenal. After Emmanuel Adebayor scored two simple headers Hangeland received a text from a club official. "That's why we need you," it read.
(read more)Ferdinand's form gives cause for concern
It was the win in San Siro which Manchester United had been striving for since 1958 but there was so nearly a sense of deja vu about the club's fifth meeting with Milan in the stadium.
(read more)'Schoolboy' defenders fail their Portuguese test
Arsene Wenger directed his anger at referee Martin Hansson for allowing Porto's winning goal, but Cesc Fabregas had it right when he described Arsenal's defending as "schoolboy" for both goals his side conceded.
(read more)Klose escapes red card and off-side flag to stun Fiorentina
Bayern Munich clinched a controversial 2-1 win over 10-man Fiorentina here last night to give them a slender advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League tie.
(read more)The night Rooney proved he can match Europe's greatest
Wayne Rooney's face, still flushed from the exertions of an extraordinary night, broadened into a wide grin when it was put to him that he had seemed patently unhappy as crosses from his team-mate Nani floated high and wide of him a few hours earlier.
(read more)Domestic chores give Benitez Europa conundrum
So here's how the other half live. Rafael Benitez, who spent Tuesday night flicking between the Champions League games from San Siro and Stade Gerland, prepares for a home leg with Unirea Urziceni, a club whose 7,000-capacity stadium is so modest that they cannot even host next week's away tie.
(read more)Wenger fumes after Fabianski's blunders hand Porto advantage
Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, blamed referee Martin Hansson for his side's 2-1 defeat by FC Porto in the first leg of their Champions League tie last night.
(read more)Fabianski gives Porto advantage over Arsenal
Lukasz Fabianski's costly blunders left Arsenal trailing after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Porto at Estadio do Dragao.
(read more)Rooney to focus on improving game
Wayne Rooney will try to ignore all the plaudits now being heaped on him from every corner of Europe and instead concentrate on getting even better.
(read more)Manchester United hitting top gear says Carrick
Michael Carrick feels Manchester United are starting to hit top form at just the right time.
(read more)Wenger has faith in Fabianski
Arsene Wenger has every confidence Lukasz Fabianski can rise to the challenge in the Champions League against Porto tonight.
(read more)Ferguson hails Rooney improvement
Sir Alex Ferguson is banking on Wayne Rooney to smash through the 30-goal barrier this season.
(read more)Ronaldo confident of Real Madrid comeback
Cristiano Ronaldo is confident Real Madrid can turn around their Champions League tie with Lyon and avoid tumbling out of the competition at the last-16 stage for the sixth successive year.
(read more)O'Neill backs Europe play-off
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has given his blessing to early proposals for a play-off for the fourth Champions League place. The idea is understood to have been raised at a recent meeting of all 20 Premier League clubs, and may well be aired again at the next meeting in April.
(read more)Fiorentina hope to revive 'spirit' that conquered Anfield
It has been a difficult few months for Fiorentina, to say the least. The Italians, who beat Liverpool twice in the group stages of the Champions League before Christmas, have lost five of their last six games in domestic football while their striker Adrian Mutu has been banned for failing a doping test last month.
(read more)Arsenal hit by injuries to Almunia and Gallas
Not so very long ago, a trip to the Estadio do Dragao was an occasion for English teams to dread – until, that is, Manchester United and then Chelsea won here inside the last 12 months. If Arsenal are to follow their lead tonight, they will have to do so without two of their most experienced players.
(read more)Makoun wonderstrike boosts Lyons
Jean Makoun's stunning second-half strike gave Lyons a deserved lead to take into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Real Madrid next month.
(read more)Magnificent Rooney uses head to gain upper hand
There were moments last night when Ronaldinho made an elegant case that, in spite of everything, he can still recapture the form that once made him the greatest footballer on the planet. Then Wayne Rooney intervened to remind him that time moves on.
(read more)Distin sees red as Toffees fail to land knockout punch
What ought to have been a comfortable night in the Europa League for Everton was overshadowed first by the news that Marouane Fellaini will miss the rest of the season with injury and was followed by the dismissal of Sylvain Distin and the conceding of what might be a critical away goal.
(read more)Ronaldinho shows Ferguson what he has been missing
Before the match, he had talked about the player he didn't want to lose. "I think he is the best player in the world but then again I'm biased." But Cristiano Ronaldo would probably not even have arrived in the frantic summer of 2003 had not another player Sir Alex Ferguson coveted slipped through his grasp.
(read more)Europa League joy will lift Liverpool status, says Nevin
Pat Nevin feels Liverpool have more to gain from winning the Europa League this season than finishing in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.
(read more)Rooney steals Beckham show in Milan
Wayne Rooney delivered on foreign soil in a way he has never done before last night, scoring twice to secure Manchester United their first away win against Milan and help them take a huge step towards the quarter-finals.
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