Yesterday's Group D action between Ghana and Botswana and Guinea and Mali capped the end of the first round of fixtures in the Orange African Cup of Nations. Both Ghana and Mali scooped points each after winning their matches by slender 1-0 margins.

It is quickly emerging that no team can be underestimated.

A Belgian welcomed back?

Big news just one and a half day before the transfer window reopens. According to Matt Law of the Daily Express, Thierry Henry has agreed to a 2 month loan deal with Arsenal. The number 12 is on the offing and the record club goalscorer will once again put on the famous read and white jersey.

A Belgian welcomed back?

Big news just one and a half day before the transfer window reopens. According to Matt Law of the Daily Express, Thierry Henry has agreed to a 2 month loan deal with Arsenal. The number 12 is on the offing and the record club goalscorer will once again put on the famous read and white jersey.

After last night's hectic London Derby ended with honours even, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp reflected on the game and felt that a draw was probably the right result.

After Daniel Sturridge cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener, both sides had great chances to win the match with Ade going so close in second half injury time.

Jose Callejon scored twice as holders Real Madrid crushed Ponferradina 5-1 in a Copa del Rey last-32 second leg to progress 7-1 on aggregate.

Espanyol, Real Mallorca and Sevilla also booked their places in the last 16 with victories. The rest of the second legs are to be played on Wednesday and Thursday before the start of Spain's two-week winter break.

*hyperboilk*

Right, big game today and all that. Man City. I remember when they used to be just fields. The other team in Manchester who everyone kind of had a soft spot (sort of) for because they were United's poor relation. Not just the poor relation though. They were the keen, eager yet drooling relation with a club foot and a cleft palate who really wanted to join the kickabout and nobody had the heart to refuse.

Real Madrid will go into the Spanish winter break with a three-point advantage over Barcelona after a 6-2 win at Sevilla.

With Barça away in Japan playing in the FIFA Club World Cup duty, José Mourinho's side took full advantage and went in front through Cristiano Ronaldo. José Callejón doubled the lead on 37 minutes, with Ronaldo's spectacular strike making it 3-0.

Real Madrid will go into the Spanish winter break with a three-point advantage over Barcelona after a 6-2 win at Sevilla.

With Barça away in Japan playing in the FIFA Club World Cup duty, José Mourinho's side took full advantage and went in front through Cristiano Ronaldo. José Callejón doubled the lead on 37 minutes, with Ronaldo's spectacular strike making it 3-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice from the penalty spot against Atletico

Real Madrid (Played 13, Points 34) took the initiative in the Spanish league last night as a 4-1 derby success at home to local rivals Atlético de Madrid was sweetened by a defeat to champions FC Barcelona whose 1-0 defeat to Getafe saw them go six points behind los Blancos at the top of the table.

Liverpool's lack of mobility and pace in midfield has been cruelly exposed on several ocaisions this season, most notably against Spurs, Norwich and Swansea. However, against Chelsea last Sunday, there were no such problems, and former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes that Kenny Dalglish has now come up with an effective strategy to address the the midfield mobility issue.

Once again, Liverpool flattered to deceive. At Anfield, against a Swansea that does not travel well, the mighty Reds laboured to a disappointing draw. An out-of-sorts Liverpool performance was made worse because of a superb goalkeeping display by the Swans' Michel Vorm. His two saves from Suarez highlighted his sterling performance.

Hello there, time for a quick Saturday round-up for you.

Arsene's press conference took place yesterday and there was plenty to talk about with RVP, Mertesacker, right backs and even the Olympics on the agenda. We'll start with Robin though and there's the double-sided thing of wanting to rest a player who is playing most of our games, but the fact that said player is scoring most of our goals.

England have qualified for the Euro 2012 finals after a 2-2 draw in Montenegro. A match that saw England throw away a two-goal lead and have Wayne Rooney sent off, a dismissal that means Rooney will miss at least one group match at next years Euros.

England got off to a great start when they scored after only 11 minutes when Rooney released Walcott on the right, with the Arsenal winger teeing up Young to head his fourth international goal from close range.

England have qualified for the Euro 2012 finals after a 2-2 draw in Montenegro. A match that saw England throw away a two-goal lead and have Wayne Rooney sent off, a dismissal that means Rooney will miss at least one group match at next years Euros.

England got off to a great start when they scored after only 11 minutes when Rooney released Walcott on the right, with the Arsenal winger teeing up Young to head his fourth international goal from close range.

The North London Derby kicked off at White Hart Lane in the blistering heat, along with a rancorous atmosphere which commonly typifies this fixture every year. Throughout Arsene Wenger's reign, Arsenal always went into this match as the favorites, and for the first time the shoe was on the other foot, with Arsenal looking up at their hated neighbours and looking to go into the International break on something of a high.

Apologies for the delay, a summer flu has knocked me out for the last 24 hours. Preview of tomorrow's Chivas game will be up later tonight.
After the worst first half the Rapids have played in years they straightened things out and halftime and dominated the second half en route to a win.

Kansas City 2 - Salt Lake 0 Real Salt Lake's dip in form continues with a 2-0 loss on the road at Sporting Kansas City. Roger Espinoza opened the scoring in the 29th minute, with Teal Bunbury making it 2-0 in the 34th. Espinoza was sent off in the 56th minute, but RSL was unable to take advantage of the extra man.

SINGAPORE, 27 July 2011: The Singapore Under-23 side secured a 1-0 win over Myanmar Under-23 in an International Friendly match that was played this evening at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The match got off to a slow with both teams looking to put their game plan into place. The Singapore U-23 team got the first shot of the game but it was directed straight at Myanmar U-23's goalkeeper, Hein Kyaw Thu.

Jason Kreis had a message for Steve Nicol
One of the many criticisms of soccer is that it is boring and there is no scoring. No one said that about the match between the New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake. This game had it all. Fans were treated to red cards, goals, referee mistakes, crossbars and player scuffles.

Barcelona took a giant step towards a second Champions League final in three seasons as two pieces of Lionel Messi magic in the final 15 minutes, were enough to see off Real Madrid in an ill-tempered game.

The first-half was everything that football is not. Real Madrid, as the home side, played Ronaldo as the lone striker and looked like they would settle for a 0-0 draw from the first whistle.

Obviously the post game focus has been on the Mullan-Zakuani incident. I covered that in length yesterday so I won't say any more about it other than correct red card to Mullan doomed the Rapids in the game. Playing a man down for 87 minutes is too much to overcome.
I thought Colorado actually had the better play most of the game but that was partially because Seattle got an early goal.

A look at this weekend's Major League Soccer action

LA Galaxy 3 Portland Timbers 0
Landon Donovan scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist to help the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Portland Timbers 3-0.

Donovan had missed the last three games due to a of a knee injury and it did not take him long to show everyone that he was fully fit as the Galaxy scored twice in the first 8 minutes.

Real Madrid are set to reach their first Champions League semi-final for eight years after thrashing ten-man Tottenham Hotspur 4-0.

Spurred on by a spectacular pre-match introduction, Madrid started strongly with Ronaldo firing wide before Di María forced a corner off Vedran Ćorluka.

Real Madrid are set to reach their first Champions League semi-final for eight years after thrashing ten-man Tottenham Hotspur 4-0.

Spurred on by a spectacular pre-match introduction, Madrid started strongly with Ronaldo firing wide before Di María forced a corner off Vedran Ćorluka.

Ok, let me get this bit out of the way. Barcelona are a great team, they played 11-a-side 5-a-side better than anyone, they have some of the best players in the world, and I understand why many people see great beauty in their football.

In the first half last night they schooled us. We could barely get near the ball and when we did we pretty much gave it straight back to them.

This is certainly not a bad result. However, underwhelmed for me is the word that describes the entire game. As a whole, it was alright but not sparkling. Individual performances didn't look bad, but nor was I impressed. We managed to put on a lot of pressure, especially in the second half, but we never fully took advantage of the forty odd minutes we spent with an extra man.

Two late goals from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona secure a 3-0 victory at Hércules and equal a 50-year-old Liga record, set by Real Madrid CF in 1960/61, by sealing their 15th successive league triumph.

Hercules are the only team to have beaten Barca in the league this season, their 2-0 success at the Camp Nou on 11 September being the last time Barcelona failed to win a top-flight game.

Two late goals from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona secure a 3-0 victory at Hércules and equal a 50-year-old Liga record, set by Real Madrid CF in 1960/61, by sealing their 15th successive league triumph.

Hercules are the only team to have beaten Barca in the league this season, their 2-0 success at the Camp Nou on 11 September being the last time Barcelona failed to win a top-flight game.

LONDON, England – Ten-man Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League Sunday after holding Tottenham to a 0-0 draw in a match that failed to live up to expectations. United's hard-earned point saw them reclaim top spot from Manchester City on goal difference, although Sir Alex Ferguson's unbeaten side have two games [.

1. Beating Liverpool is always brilliant. Knocking them out of the FA Cup is great. Destroying all the good feeling and positivity that came with Kenny Dalglish's appointment is even better. Although I'm frustrated we didn't totally destroy them today. We dominated the game entirely, as you would expect for a side with an extra man for an hour, but just weren't clinical enough in the box.