Persija went into this game minus Bambang Pamungkas and Mustafic Faruddin. They came out of it with first choice keeper Yasri injured and questions about a defence that went missing.
Mustafic wasn't that much of a miss anyway. They just bypassed midfield. I saw Carresco walk on the field. I saw him substituted on 51' but I never saw him in between. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stoked up the mounting pressure on himself by incredibly insisting: "I don't have to win a trophy."
The Reds' title dreams have been hit by FIVE League defeats already this season; they crashed out of the Carling Cup at Arsenal in midweek and their Champions League dreams will be in tatters if they lose Wednesday's crucial Group E clash in Lyon. Click to continue reading...

It is Friday morning and Sir Alex Ferguson has finished his pre-match news conference. There is a bit of good news on the injury front ahead of the all important game between Man United and Chelsea this Sunday.
After missing the midweek 3-3 draw against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov are fit to play on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea rattled in another four goals yesterday as we beat Bolton 4-0 at the Reebok stadium and let's face it, it could of been so much more. After the display in midweek I predicted that the game yesterday would be a much more difficult game and to Bolton's credit for 43 minutes of the first half it was. Click to continue reading...

by CARL ELDRIDGEÂ The goal-hungry Gunners are on course for a record-breaking ton of Premier League goals.

And this merits mention in today's Press with the Daily Mirror telling us that Arsene Wenger's men notched four more goals at Wolves to take their top-flight tally to 36 already in just 11 games.

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Forget Haye v Valuev, this is the big one Chelsea v Manchester United. This year's favourites take on the Premier League champions. But while Chelsea and Drogba are in top form, United's injury problems mount.

And it is Didier Drogba who pundits alike are talking about. He is in the best form of his life, and if there was a better time to face United for the Ivory Coast forward, it would have to be now as he will be up against a rather depleted looking back line.

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Arsenal scored 4 in midweek in the Champions League, and are 4 points clear at the top of their group table.
Since losing away to Man City 4-2, Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 matches (League, League Cup, and CL). That includes 10 wins, three matches in which Arsenal have scored 3 goals, two with 4 goals, and one with 6 goals. Click to continue reading...

by TRAVIS CLARK

The Big East happens to be an earlier starter when it comes to the postseason tournament. The first round took place midweek, and while it's too early to pronounce some of the results as upsets, DePaul managing to squeak into the quarterfinals comes as a slight surprise -- the Demons drew 2-2 at Georgetown before winning on penalties.

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by TRAVIS CLARK

The Big East happens to be an earlier starter when it comes to the postseason tournament. The first round took place midweek, and while it's too early to pronounce some of the results as upsets, DePaul managing to squeak into the quarterfinals comes as a slight surprise -- the Demons drew 2-2 at Georgetown before winning on penalties.

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The 4-1 thumping of Alkmaar in midweek was an immensely satisfying affair, a triumph of footballing philosophy over the defensive nous of coaches such as Ronald Koeman, and yet another demonstration that this Arsenal team is serious about combining footballing beauty with tangible success.

But prior the the match, there was a definite sense of relaxation amongst the fans, as if the game really didn't matter, so assured was our progress regardless of the result.

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Valencia fans are nasty fans.

Thats the conclusion that has to be drawn if you read the the chatter this week.

Our Che have lost 1 game all season. 1 Match. We are in 4th and within grasp of the top.

And yet even after a hard win against Malaga the fans complain.

Here are the highlights in case you missed the match.

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Given - Match saving performance. Three superb saves and the penalty stop to 'win' the point. 8.5
Zabaleta - A strong performance, not a step out of place. Put more distance between him and Richards. 7
Kompany - Cool, calm and assured. Forged a nice partnership with Lescott in dealing with the lively front pair. Click to continue reading...

As a Manchester United fan Saturday's 2-0 win over Blackburn represented much more than just three points. Not only did Dimitar Berbatov score yet another sensational goal, but young French winger Gabriel Obertan made his Premier League debut. Obertan impressed midweek in the Carling Cup against Barnsley, but seeing him against Premiership opposition just meant that much more.

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For the record, the photo accompanying this article is from Thursday's Boca Juniors match with Chacarita Juniors at the Bombonera. It had no effect on the rankings, but I wanted to post a photo of my own to the entry.

For the first time in over a month, a club remained at the top spot of the rankings for consecutive weeks as Chelsea solidified its position at the top with a pair of 4-0 victories over Bolton Wanderers this week.

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Chelsea rattled in another four goals yesterday as we beat Bolton 4-0 at the Reebok stadium and let's face it, it could of been so much more. After the display in midweek I predicted that the game yesterday would be a much more difficult game and to Bolton's credit for 43 minutes of the first half it was. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea rattled in another four goals yesterday as we beat Bolton 4-0 at the Reebok stadium and let's face it, it could of been so much more. After the display in midweek I predicted that the game yesterday would be a much more difficult game and to Bolton's credit for 43 minutes of the first half it was. Click to continue reading...

If you thought that Napoli's injury time brace, which handed the club a 2-2 draw at home to AC Milan, was its comeback of the week, think again. The underperforming Naples outfit has suddenly brought an end to an indifferent spell by stunning Serie A contenders Juventus 3-2 this evening, and that too away from home.

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OCTOBER 31, 2009
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St. Etienne
4PM ET (21:00 CET, 20:00 GMT)

Saturday, OL make their descent into Le Chaudron and you can believe it will be hot- aka Stade Geoffroy-Guichard to kick-off the only derby that really matters.

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Barnsley played Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United midweek and today take on Darren Ferguson's Peterborough this weekend.

Blackburn played Darren Ferguson's Peterborough midweek and take on Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United the weekend.

"A Little Weird But Cool" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia. Click to continue reading...

A much earlier blog than usual as I'm heading Londonwards this morning for the game.

There's nothing new to report in terms of the team. Wenger confirmed Fabianski's injury and said he'd be missing for "three to four" weeks, which is no doubt a blow to him. He was giving nothing away when pressed about who would play today.

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With Almunia frozen out, and Mannone beginning to show understandable signs of being a little out of his depth in the first team at this early stage of his career, the stage seemed set for Fabianski to return to the fray against Spurs this afternoon, especially after a decent showing against Liverpool in midweek.

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By Gareth Freeman

United's Carling Cup win over Barnsley was encouraging in the fact the ‘squad' players came in and gave a decent account of themselves. Michael Owen's goal was vintage Owen, he showed neat skills and a cool composure to send the ball into the net but, with all due respect to Barnsley, he should have registered a goal against the opposition.

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Chelsea faces a tricky away trip to the Reebok Stadium to take on Bolton on Saturday. The two sides just clashed this midweek in the Carling Cup with Chelsea running out 4-0 winners. Carlo Ancelotti has been delighted with his side's start to the season, but Bolton has long been a bogey team in the Premier League for the Pensioners.

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Right then, it's one busy blog this morning so let's get right into it.

Just moments, possibly seconds, after an article appeared on the official site with Lukasz Fabianski talking about how delighted he was to be back, another appeared advising us that Lukasz Fabianski would be out for three weeks.

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After losing 4-0 to Alcorcon midweek, Wedgiellas over here wants to pull a Saltimbanco and pretend that nothing's happening. Looks like Iker's bestie, Rafael Nadal, forgot to collect his equipment from the Bernabeu. He arrived at training yesterday in good spirits.

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The midweek Copa del Rey match went far better for Valencia than it did for a few of the other top leaguers this week. Though not spectacular the single away goal by Joaquin has placed Valencia firmly in the drivers seat for the upcomming home game.

Joaquin scored a a gorgeous little chip shot to gain the winning goal in the 10th minute of play.

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My first day in Buenos Aires turned out to be the day of the superclasico, even though I scheduled it months before the schedule came out. Fate? Perhaps. Unfortunately, fate also worked to have me arrive too late to attend the match. Fate can be fickle. Because of the fickle finger of fate, the only picture I have is a blurry one of a television screen showing the end of the match in a café in Buenos Aires.

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by JAMES CURTIS Arsenal make the short trip across London to West Ham this afternoon not just as a team in fine league form but as title contenders, after Arsene Wenger's comments in midweek officially entered Arsenal into the race for silverware.

"I know that we haven't won a trophy for four years, but we have been very close and I believe that this year the team will do it," Wenger said at Arsenal's Annual General Meeting on Thursday.

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Hello there, I hope you remembered to put the clocks back. I didn't. Modern technology being what it is mean my phone and computer all did it automatically. I like when I don't have to remember stuff because I'm not very good at it.

Anyway, a quick Sunday round-up for you. It's West Ham later, as we know, and although they're second from bottom I think this is going to be a trickier game than the table suggests.

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Three points dropped.

Life is tough at the top. Â Last year at this stage of the season, Tottenham were propping up the Premier League table. Â Coming into this game they actually had a chance to go top with a big win, or at least draw level on points. Â Instead, Stoke gave them a lesson in defensive tenacity and profligacy in should-win games.

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I know I know, no blog yesterday, very naughty. But it's ok, I slapped myself earlier so you don't have to worry about doing that. I'll not go into it, but i'll just say one word WORK. If you don't get what I mean, at least I know Jamrock will. And if it makes you feel better, I just sat through Wolves v Villa which was a significant punishment. Click to continue reading...

You can watch Nice v Lyon Live online here.

Nice v Lyon
Ligue Un
Saturday 24 October 2009
Kick-off: 18:00 BST

Nice Preview

Nice are second from bottom in Ligue 1 after gaining just eight points from nine games.

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You can watch Bayern Munich v Frankfurt Live online here.

Bayern Munich v Frankfurt
Bundesliga
Saturday 24 October 2009
Kick-off: 14:30 BST

Bayern Munich Preview

Bayern Munich are currently 6th in the Bundesliga, 7 points of the pace, and it has been their inability to finish games off that has cost them so far this season.

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You can watch West Ham v Arsenal Live online here.

West Ham v Arsenal
Upton Park
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Kickoff: 16:15 BST

West Ham welcome Arsenal in the last Premier League game on Sunday - this London derby may not spark as much interest as the Liverpool - Manchester United game earlier in the day but it's a key game for both London clubs.

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Tomorrow night the Wizards will end what's been a lackluster 2009 season when they take on DC United at Community America Ballpark. While this game means nothing for KC, it means everything for DC. DC needs a win and some help to get themselves one of the two remaining playoff spots. They're competing with 5 other teams for those 2 remaining spots. Click to continue reading...