Champions League Wrap Up: Liverpool Almost Out

This matchday of Champions League and Europa League has provided us with action and entertainment. Anyone who said the group stages are boring is proved wrong big time, with big teams slipping, and small teams fighting, the group stages will be fought to the death.

In the Champions League, Liverpool boss Benitez is risking big with a 1-1 draw against Olympique Lyon, although the reds aren't out of the competition mathematically, they will need many results to go their way so that they can go through to the knockout stages. Besiktas continue their terrible run with only one point losing to Wolfsburg 3-0, and Olympique Marseille pummel FC Zurich 6-1. Juventus get an important win against Maccabi Haifa, a goal by Camoranesi lets them relax a bit while Bordeaux qualify for the knockout stages by beating Bayern Munich 2-0. Bayern are in trouble now, and Van Gaal has one game left to prove himself, if Bayern don't get a positive result on the weekend against Schalke then Van Gaal could be out. Manchester United drew 3-3 in an exciting game against CSKA Moska, this allows them to stay top of the group with seven points. Inter Milan are top of their group beating Dinamo Kyiv 2-1 with a late winner by Sneijder, Rubin Kazan are able to maintain a clean sheet against Barcelona, drawing 0-0 with the current European Champions Rubin Kazan could fight for a spot in the Europa League. Chelsea qualify, drawing 2-2 with Atletico Madrid, while Fiorentina are nearly there, a fantastic 5-2 win lets them inch closer to qualification.

What do you think of this week's CL action? Comment below!

Quote of the Week: Fabio Capello

This week's QOTW is Fabio Capello talking about his first training session with the England Squad, the Italian manager has guided England to qualification, and he will most probably guide them through South Africa 2010.

"I remember the first training session and I was surprised because the players were really good,"

- Fabio Capello

A bit of humor for this week's QOTW, Capello was very surprised because he thought that because England didn't make it the the 2008 Euro's, the players would not be of high quality. Let's see what Capello can do with these high quality players, and if he can guide them through a succesful SA 2010 World Cup.

Beckham Goes Back to AC Milan, and more Transfer Rumors

Beckham returns to AC Milan

AC Milan have confirmed that David Beckham, currently playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS, will go back to the Rossoneri in January. David said this about his return to AC Milan.

"I had to give myself the best chance to play in the World Cup, playing on loan with Milan will help me do that. I enjoyed my last experience at Milan a lot and I can't wait to meet the team and the staff again. I thank Tim Leiweke and Bruce Arena for having given me this opportunity. I remain close to Los Angeles Galaxy and MLS and I care about football's development in America. Now I am completely concentrated on finishing this season in the best way with my club by winning the MLS Cup."

- David Beckham 




Quaresma back to Portugal?


It seems possible that Inter Milan's Portuguese winger, Ricardo Quaresma could return to Portugal on loan in January. It seems that Sporting Lisbona are interested in the winger, even though some wage fees are still a bit too high for Sporting. Quaresma has been out of the Portuguese NT for quite some time, and this move could bring back good form, and the 2010 WC to Quaresma.

Mancini in line for Red's job


It seems that if Rafael Benitez looses the upcoming games against Lyon, and then Birmingham City, the spaniard will be forced to leave. The replacement? it seems that Roberto Mancini could be the man for the job, already having dominated in Italy winning three Scudetto's in a row with Inter Milan, Mancini could bring back the powerful Liverpool side that we all know exists.




Chelsea preparing to buy Villa


Even though Chelsea have been banned, and are unable to buy players until January 2011, it seems that the blues are preparing a 33 million pound bid for Spanish striker David Villa. Currently at Valencia, the spanish club has been in heavy debt because of bad management, it seemed that many of their key players would leave last summer, but Valencia was able to keep them from the interests of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Now, Villa could leave for England, and if he leaves, David Silva could be next.




United plan Suarez signing


Manchester United have been eyeing Ajax's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. It seems that the red devils are preparing a 40 million Euro bid to buy Ajax's wonder-boy, Suarez is only 22, and he could be the player that makes everyone forget about the Ronaldo era.

Major European Leagues Wrap Up: Arsenal Defeat Tottenham 3-0, and Ajax Destroy Arch-Rival Feyenoord 5-1

This week included two gigantic matches in world football, the North London Derby, Arsenal against Tottenham, and Ajax against Feyenoord. Pellegrini is a bit safer at Madrid, and Benitez is moving up the spots in the sack race. While Inter escape to the top of Serie A, seven points above second place Juventus, Portsmouth start getting the three points needed to start moving up the Premiership table.

*Eredivisie Special*


Ajax claim an important victory over their arch-rival Feyenoord, a demolishing 5-1 victory with Babovic being sent off in the 43rd minute leaving Feyenoord in ten men, then in the 89th, Van Dijk is sent off, leaving the losing side in nine men for the glamour finale by Suarez, who scored the final goal in the 5-1 victory.

Barclay's Premiership

In England, Fulham are able to overpower a weakened Liverpool side that at the end of the match, only had nine men on the field, Degen and Carragher both sent off with direct reds. Portsmouth get three crucial points even if they remain last in the table, Portsmouth carried by a super Dindane who claimed a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Wigan. Arsenal claim the North London Derby over Tottenham with a hearty 3-0 victory at the Emirates, Van Persie getting a brace and Fabregas scoring one to sink Tottenham Hotspur's top four dreams. A huge match between Burnley and Hull City ended 2-0 for Burnley, Phil Brown seems to be leading the sack race even though as he said, "My players are one million percent behind me." A brace by Alexander allows Burnley to rise up to tenth place. After a 4-0 win over Bolton, Chelsea can now say that their past four games in all competitions have been won by at least a four goal difference. Sunderland and West Ham face off and finish off with a 2-2 draw, with a player from both sides being sent off, West Ham went in front with two goals in the first half, and Sunderland came back well to claim the single point needed.

Serie A


In Italy, Napoli come back in style against Juventus, winning 3-2 at Juventus' home. Trezeguet and Giovinco take Juventus up 2-0, but a wonderful brace by Hamsik, and a goal from Datolo brought Napoli back to win 3-2. Amauri was sent off after being subbed on with a direct red because of a rough challenge against De Sanctis (Napoli Goalkeeper) and what could be described as a "verbal confrontation" with some Napoli players also ended his good form. A controversial 0-0 between Sampdoria and Bari causes Antonio Cassano to come out with statements against the fans, the Italian said if the fans continue their poor attitude, he would leave Sampdoria. Inter Milan cruise to the top of the table with seven points clear of the second place Juventus thanks to a 2-0 win over Livorno, a goal by Diego Milito started the scoring, and then Maicon ended the match with another goal for the Nerazzurri. AC Milan get an important win over Parma, 2-0, with a brace by Borriello, and Ronaldinho getting both assists, AC Milan are ready to welcome Real Madrid to the San Siro during the midweek.

La Liga


In Spain, Barcelona slip with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna, an own goal by Pique in injury time stole two points from the Catalans. Pellegrini looks to be a bit safer on the Real Madrid bench thanks to a 2-0 win over Getafe, a brace by Higuain will hopefully give the needed morale to Real to go to the San Siro and beat AC Milan, with Ronaldo or not. Villareal start banging in the goals, a 5-0 victory over Tenerife lets The Yellow Submarine move up to thirteenth place in the tables. Quique Flores has not changed the bad results that Atletico Madrid have been getting, a 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao leaves Atletico in 18th place. Valencia who could sell some of their key players in January win 1-0 over Malaga, letting them stay in the much needed fourth place which allows them to enter the Champions League Qualifiers next season.


This week was full of comebacks, reassuring results, and killer losses, what do you think of this week's matches? Comment below!