Monday 23rd November
19:45 Preston North End v Newcastle Utd, Championship, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
These two sides haven't played each other in the league since 1981. That season, Preston went down to the old Third Division and if they maintain their current form (one win in their last seven games), they might just replicate that. Click to continue reading...

There are several matches on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in the European leagues. Two of the biggest clubs in the Ukranian Premier League face each other as Dynamo Kiev hosts Shakhtar Donetsk. In Romania, Unirea Urziceni v FC International meet each other as both are in the middle of the Liga I table.

Click to continue reading...

There was a lot of action in topflight soccer last week, with a full suite of Champions League, Europa League and domestic competition on tap. After the dust settled, however, the number one team is the same one it's been for three weeks running now. Not that anybody should be surprised by that. There was plenty of movement elsewhere in the top 25 however. Click to continue reading...

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Lyon)

Hugo Lloris showed Liverpool fans why he is France's number one keeper. While the Reds poured on the pressure he stood firm and made some brilliant saves early on against Kuyt, Torres, and Voronin. It took a wonder-strike from Babel to finally beat him.

Centre Back: Lucio (Internazionale)

Lucio showed why he is rated so highly around Europe.

Click to continue reading...

UPDATE: According to the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has ruled out the possibility of going after Dynamo Kiev striker Andriy Shevchenko. McLeish said,

"Shevchenko is not on my radar. Sammy has not told me he has made inquiries.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool was so close to victory yesterday in Lyon. After giving Lyon their best for 83 minutes, a Ryan Babel wonder goal broke the deadlock, handing Rafa and the Reds a lifeline in Group E. A win against the French powerhouse would throw them back in the thick of things. But it was not to be, as Lisandro Lopez capitalized on some poor Liverpool defending to snatch a 1-1 draw that sealed Lyon's passage to the knockout stage.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool was so close to victory yesterday in Lyon. After shutting out Les Gones for 83 minutes, a Ryan Babel wonder goal broke the deadlock, handing Rafa and the Reds a lifeline in Group E. A win against the French powerhouse would throw them back in the thick of things. But it was not to be, as Lisandro Lopez capitalized on some poor Liverpool defending to snatch a 1-1 draw that sealed Lyon's passage to the knockout stage.

Click to continue reading...

Ahhhhhhhh some of the fans took off their club issued masks! Swine flu! SWINE FLU!!!!!!!

[Photo: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images]

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool's Champions League hopes got a beating when they conceded a 90th minute goal to Lyon's Lisandro in their encounter last night. Just seven minutes back, Ryan Babel had done his bit and put the Reds in the lead. With this 1-1 draw, Lyon enter the last 16 while Liverpool still five points behind second [. Click to continue reading...

REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Though FC Barcelona completely dominated ball posssiesion through the entire match they were unable to capitalize against Rubin Kazan.

In a balmy 25 degrees Fahrenheit Barcelona came out in the first half with revenge on their mind. Having lost 2-1 to Kazan at home just weeks prior Guardiola's men were looking for a win on the road and top spot in group F of the Champions League.

Click to continue reading...

Inter Milan scored twice in the final five minutes to overcome Dynamo Kiev.

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

1-0 Shevchenko

1-1 Milito

1-2 Sneijder

Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!

Click to continue reading...

It's already halftime in Kazan as Barcelona look to avenge their defeat at Camp Nou in their last meeting (live on FSC). With the score tied at 0-0, there are plenty of reasons to watch -- as well as other Champions League action as matchday 4 resumes today.

Liverpool face Lyon as the French club aims to reach the qualification stages.

Click to continue reading...

The UEFA Champions League wraps up play today with eight rematches from the last round.

It's already halftime in Kazan as Barcelona looks to avenge its defeat at Camp Nou when the two clubs last faced each other (live on FSC). With the score tied at 0-0, there are plenty of reasons to watch -- as well as other Champions League action as matchday 4 resumes today.

Click to continue reading...

Late notice on this one thanks to the dunderheads at Comcast and some other issues beyond my control, so as a result, everyone who posts any pick at all gets 10 bonus points today.
Decent lineup of matches in the Champions League today, and like yesterday, these are the reverse fixtures of Matchday 3. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool and Rangers are drinking in the last-chance saloon while Arsenal are hoping to toast their progress into the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League. Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, who have not won in the Champions League for over a year, must drop their reputation as draw specialists when they face Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine where the former Chelsea boss will once again be up against ex-Blues striker Andriy Shevchenko. Click to continue reading...

The UEFA Champions League wraps up its fourth set of group stage matches on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 with eight matches. Some of the clubs involved are Barcelona, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Lyon, and Arsenal. Can Liverpool get a win at Lyon to keep their knockout stage chances alive? Will Barcelona get revenge as they travel to Russia to play Rubin Kazan?

Click to continue reading...

According to Andy Walker at the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are thought to be interested in Dynamo Kiev striker Andriy Shevchenko, but he is not a top priority. One of the biggest reasons is because of his large wages.

Other targets mentioned are West Bromwich midfielder Graham Dorrans and QPR's Wayne Routledge.

Click to continue reading...

Barcelona vs FK Rubin Kazan

Barcelona are on a revenge mission in Russia after being beaten at the Camp Nou a fortnight ago by the Russian champions.

Barca are dejected after Rubin's win.

Group F is the closest group in this year's group stage of the Champions League. Click to continue reading...

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

The derby match between St. Pauli and Hansa Rostock once again brings fire and violence and police involvement, this time inflamed by St. Pauli's Deniz Naki. [101gg]

Every fan attending the Dynamo Kiev v Inter Champions League match will be given masks to protect against the terrifying dangers of swine flu.

Click to continue reading...

Inter increased their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points at the weekend. Carlo Garganese looks at some of the domestic records the Nerazzurri are setting, but fears they will be eliminated from the Champions League unless they beat Dynamo Kiev in midweek. Click to continue reading...

This week's Champions League games could see several big names all but knocked out of the tournament, and leave several big name managers looking for new jobs.

Fresh from stunning holders Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Rubin Kazan have the chance to repeat the feat at the Centralniy Stadium, with a place in the knockout phase now a realistic ambition for the Russian champions.

Click to continue reading...

The UEFA Champions League continues its group stage with some key matches on Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4. Here's a list of predictions, previews, and USA/UK TV Listings for the upcoming matches.

Previews

Full previews of all the matches can be found here the UEFA's official website, here.

Click to continue reading...

Welcome to November. A week of domestic competition is behind us. This week clubs go back to work in the Champions- and Europa Leagues (as well as the Copa Sudamericana but those clubs do not figure in the Top 25 at this point). Here's where they stand ahead of a crucial week in those competitions:
1. Click to continue reading...

Back in September 2008, when Dimitar Berbatov and Man United CEO David Gill put the finishing touches on a lucrative 4-year contract tying the enigmatic Bulgarian to Old Trafford for the prime years of his career, you would have been an absolute plonker to ask the question.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has joined the chase for Georgian wonderkid Zhano Ananidze.
Arsenal are already tracking the 17-year-old Spartak Moscow midfielder.
The Gunners, along with Sevilla, Juventus and AC Milan are said to be tracking the Georgia international - dubbed the new Georgi Kinkladze. Click to continue reading...

With the season is moving towards the final stages, I thought it was high time I produced a follow up to last year's ‘Brazil: the talent factory' post. Once again, there has been an abundance of exciting new players that have caught the eye in their first season in Série A.

Of the players I picked out last year; Palmeiras' Keirrison was bought by Barcelona and has been loaned out to Benfica.

Click to continue reading...

From Saturday's Ukrainian SuperLiga match between Dnipro and league leaders Dynamo Kiev, we have Dnipro's Pavlo Pashayev sending Milos Ninkovic on a painful trip through the sky with a terrible high challenge that earned him a straight red. Even worse? His teammates actually had the gall to argue the ref's decision.

Click to continue reading...

I know we are still in the first part of the football season but it seems to me that some changes might occur at the top of the football chain. Some teams that always have made a good impression are getting worse.
Some examples are Bayern Munchen and AC Milan. Both teams played in the UEFA Cup in recent years and this year they are having weak runs in the domestic leagues with Bayern in 6th position and Milan in 8th. Click to continue reading...

Another exciting Champions League week is in the books, and before we switch gears back to the Premier League, let's have a look at ten things we learned from the midweek Champions League fixtures.

10Tuesday is for goals. Fans and neutrals around the world were treated to some thrilling matches on Tuesday.

Click to continue reading...

No support for Blatter's re-election, Champions League shock results, impressive individual performances and spectacular goals, all feature on this week's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Click to continue reading...

I never thought I would see the day but there are increasing calls from the Inter faithful for Jose Mourinho to leave.

The self styled "special one" who won the Champions League in 2004, as well as league titles in Portugal, England and Italy, is under intense pressure as Inter's alarming European form continues to slide downwards.

Click to continue reading...

Russian champions Rubin Kazan beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou. Liverpool lose 1-2 to Lyon at Anfield. Arsenal concede a late equalizer against AZ Alkmaar, 1-1. Dynamo Kiev (who's ever heard of them? Or right, one of the most important clubs in the development of modern football) draw 2-2 with Inter Milan. Click to continue reading...

Inter Milan drew 2-2 at home to Dynamo Kiev in a game that saw them behind twice and could have ended in defeat. Inter Milan are now at the Bottom of group F and only have one remaining home game left to play.

Although it is true that Inter are at the bottom of the group they have 3 points from 3 games but it is not quite as bad as it sounds with the other 3 teams all being tied on 4 points.

Click to continue reading...

In one of the most shocking UEFA Champions League matchdays in recent memory, no fewer than four of Soccer Source's Top 25 clubs were upset or had to settle for draws. The biggest, undoubtedly, was No. 1 Barcelona's fall from grace in a stunning 2-1 home loss to No. 23 Rubin Kazan. Few soccer fans had even heard of the Russian upstarts before the group stage draw, and the club appeared destined to fade from memory just as quickly when it lost at Dynamo Kiev on the first matchday. Click to continue reading...

The UEFA Champions League had eight group stage matches on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Several of the top clubs where in action including Arsenal, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and Inter Milan. Here's a recap of all the matches along with vidoe highlights.

UEFA Champions League Recap Tuesday, October 20, 2009

There were several upsets and surprise results on Tuesday.

Click to continue reading...