Last night the Rapids held a Supporters Forum at Fado's in Lodo. I was unable to attend, but the big news that came out of the forum was that Colorado is pursuing a young #10-style Argentine midfielder. No details have been leaked on his name or his background but there may be a new arrival from South America in Commerce City soon.

Villarreal will be without Cristian Zapata, Cani, Marco Ruben and Marcos Senna for their Group A meeting with Manchester City, while Javier Camuñas is doubtful.

These injuries are in addition to Giuseppe Rossi, who is out for six months, after knee surgery earlier this week.

The most serious of the other injuries appears to be to Zapata, who strained a ligament in his right knee during Saturday's 2-0 Liga win against Rayo Vallecano, an injury which is likely to sideline him for five weeks.

The Italian Serie A since yesterday has an unexpected leader: Udinese Calcio. After the amazing 4th place of the last year Francesco Guidolin's team is now at the top of the league despite the selling of many foundamental players during the last summer market.

Players like Gokhan Inler, Alexis Sanchez and Cristian Zapata have been sold for more than £ 60 millions and replaced with less expensive players such as Gabriel Torje ( £ 5 millions from Dinamo Bucaresti) and Danilo Larangeira (form Palmeiras).

Mano Menezes & Alejandro Sabella holding the Nicolás Leoz trophy

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Brazil take on Argentina later today in the first game in the Copa Roca in Cordoba. With both squads limited to ‘home-based' players, there are some new faces in the Brazil line-up.

10.09.2011 - Con goles de Rubén Ramírez (2), Emanuel Perea (e/c), Leandro Caruso, Diego Villar y Jorge Curbello, Godoy Cruz dio vuelta el partido para vencer (6-1) a All Boys en el Malvinas Argentinas (Mendoza).
Godoy Cruz: Nelson Ibañez; Roberto Russo, Leonardo Sigali, Nicolás Sánchez y Germán Voboril; Diego Villar, Nicolás Olmedo y Ariel Rojas; Gonzalo Cabrera; Rubén Ramírez y Leandro Caruso.

Team news, facts and figures ahead of the Champions League play-off first leg between Arsenal and Udinese at Emirates Stadium.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal will be without suspended duo Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie. Nasri would not have been expected to play as he moves closer to a move away from the Emirates, whileCesc Fabregas has finally completed his protracted transfer to Barcelona.

Which are the best games of the season? Well, to me they have always been the Autumn midweek night games. The games start in sunshine and finish under floodlights, it is early season so the fans are excited, the team has gone through pre-season and are all fit and raring to go. These are nights that live long in the memory.

Last week, Arsenal were drawn with Italian side Udinese in the final qualifying match to determine if they'll reach the Group stages of the Champions League. Udinese have lost some of their top players, including Colombian international defender Cristian Zapata who left for Spain's Villareal.

Newcastle (A) – Udinese (H) – Liverpool (H) – Udinese (A) – Manchester United (A)

Five games in 16 days, each with its unique degree of significance. I don't like dramatizing the consequences of each match, especially at the start, but one gets the feeling, before the end of August Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jayega.

Udinese are the easiest hurdle for Arsenal in an incredibly tough August - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The season hasn't started yet, but Arsenal are already contemplating a tough month ahead with matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Udinese to start their season with, plus trouble in the transfer market with Fabregas and Nasri pushing for moves away and a lack of incoming talent.

Still hanging with the uncertainties regarding the future of their two important players, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, a pretty tricky tie awaits Arsenal on their bid to enter the Champions League group stage as according to the latest drawing, the Gunners are being matched up against Udinese.

Arsenal will face Udinese in the play-off game after the Champions League draw in Lyon this morning. They finished fourth in the league last season but haven't played in the competition since 2006. Arsenal have lost none of the seven two-legged knockout ties against Italian sides in Europe.

Champions League play-off contenders Villarreal have signed midfielder Javier Camuñas from Osasuna.

The 31-year-old has switched for a €2.3m fee and has agreed a contract running until summer 2014, subject to a medical this week. Camuñas is Villarreal's third signing of the close season, following defender Cristián Zapata and goalkeeper César Sánchez to El Madrigal.

After a goalless draw with Serie A Champions AC Milan on the last day of the 2010/11 season, Udinese qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in five years.
An extremely unpredictable result considering they were in the midst of a relegation battle the season before, eventually finishing fifteenth.

Liverpool lose out to Villarreal over defender

Colombia star Zapata was also linked with Arsenal

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-07-12 09:25:30 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool look to have been beaten in the race for Udinese defender Cristian Zapata, as he seems to be heading to Villarreal.
The Reds had been heavily linked with the Colombian international centre-back a couple of weeks ago.
However, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Udinese have a deal in place with Villarreal.

Cristian Zapata's agent has played down reports the Udinese defender is set to complete a move to Liverpool.
Last week the Colombia international was quoted as saying he was close to sealing a deal with the Premier League giants.
Bayern Munich had also made an approach for the 24-year-old, who was previously a target of Arsenal.

20.06.2011 - Estuvo muy cerca de lograr el doblete que nadie consiguió pero la nafta se le acabó en semifinales de la Copa Libertadores de América. Se repuso del golpe, siguió ganando y consiguió el Torneo Néstor Kirchner Clausura 2011 Copa Malvinas Argentinas, su 8º título AFA, una fecha antes del final y a 4 puntos de su inmediato perseguidor (Lanús).

Columbia international Cristian Zapata has rejected a move to Arsenal, and is very close to signing a deal with Liverpool, according to the Metro.
The Udinese defender is currently participating in the Copa America, but took the time to tell a local radio station that he is relatively close to agreeing to a deal with Liverpool.

Columbia international Cristian Zapata has rejected a move to Arsenal, and is very close to signing a deal with Liverpool, according to the Metro.
The Udinese defender is currently participating in the Copa America, but took the time to tell a local radio station that he is relatively close to agreeing to a deal with Liverpool.

Udinese defender reveals Reds offer. Udinese defender Cristian Zapata has...

26.05.2011 - Con gol de Darío Rodríguez (´44) Peñarol venció (1-0) a Vélez en el Centenario por la primera semifinal de la Copa Libertadores de América (2011).
Rústico y efectivo, Peñarol encontró el gol al final del primer tiempo y supo cerrarse (línea de 5) para mantener su arco en cero.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Out of the four semifinalists in this year's Copa Libertadores, only Paraguay's Cerro Porteno will be vying for its first title with Brazil's Santos, Argentina's Velez Sarsfield and Uruguay's Penarol all having lifted the trophy on at least one occasion.

Udinese wing back Pablo Armero has been linked with Liverpool this week as a potential solution to the Reds' left back problem, but who is he?
Armero is Colombian and started out life playing for America de Cali in his native country. The wing back had already played and impressed for Colombia's U17s, making him a player with tremendous promise for his club.

Probable Formations Matchday 22 Italian Serie A Saturday 05.02.11 Udinese vs Sampdoria Udinese (3-5-2): Belardi, Benatia, Zapata, Domizzi, Isla, Pinzi, Inler, Assmoah, Armero, Sanchez, DiNatale Sampdoria (4-4-2): Curci, Zauri, Volta, Martinez, Ziegler, Mannini, Palombo,Tissone, Guberti, Maccarone, Macheda Cagliari vs Juventus Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Agazzi, Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini, Biondini,.

Scot is taking a look at Week 22 team of the week. 3-4-3 formation Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar (Inter) The Brazilian international was back in action and proved pivotal to Inter victory. He saved well from Bovo and quick to save a Zanetti own goal. Also was at his best to save Javier Pastore Penalty and to save the rebound.

When Francesco Guidolin left Parma to manage Udinese, I was disappointed. Guidolin had united a set of strong individuals, managing Parma all the way up to eighth in the table last season. Udinese finished 15th this past season, yet Guidolin saw something in the club and decided to join them.

Udinese vs Inter Milan Serie A- January 23, 2011 Final score:- Udinese 3-1 Inter Milan ( Cristian Zapata, Antonio Di Natale, Mauricio Domizzi/ Dejan Stankovic) Udinese hand Leonardo his first defeat as Inter Milan manager as they beat the Nerazzurri 3-1 at home. The 3-1 was a comeback win for Udinese as they trailed after [.