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Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland is expected to make an eagerly awaited return from injury as his side look to battle back into the Bundesliga top four with a win over high-fliers Wolfsburg on Sunday.  The prolific Norwegian prodigy has missed the last four league games and the last seven in all competitions after picking up a hamstring injury in early December.  Yet the 20-year-old returned to team training this week, and Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc confirmed that he would be back in action this weekend. “Erling’s recovery has gone well. We are working on the assumption that he can play against Wolfsburg,” said Zorc. Haaland’s return is timely, with his side in desperate need of a win after a miserable run of form before Christmas saw them drop to fifth in the table, eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich and two behind Sunday’s opponents Wolfsburg. Dortmund sacked coach Lucien Favre after they were thrashed by promoted side Stuttgart

London (AFP) – Liverpool will start 2021 in a familiar position at the top of the Premier League but with a rejuvenated Manchester United leading a pack of challengers who are all within striking distance. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would join the champions on 33 points if they beat Aston Villa on Friday, with Jurgen Klopp’s men not in action until Monday. But just seven points separate Liverpool from their next opponents Southampton, all the way down in ninth spot, giving clubs a chance to dream. AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend action in the English top-flight. Liverpool v United battle? Jurgen Klopp said he was not “overly frustrated” after seeing his side held to a goalless draw at Newcastle on Wednesday. But the squandered points denied Liverpool the comfort of a five-point lead over bitter rivals United heading into the New Year. The leaders have now drawn three of their past five Premier League games, including last weekend’s disap

Madrid (AFP) – Cristian Portu scored the only goal as Real Sociedad edged Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in a disappointing Basque derby on Thursday. Portu found the net after just five minutes at San Mames, finishing off a counter-attack by Mikel Oyarzabal.  Sociedad remain in third place in La Liga with 29 points, four behind Real Madrid who have a game in hand. Atletico Madrid still lead the way at the end of 2020 on 35 points, two ahead of their city rivals. Victory for Sociedad was also a boost with the two sides possibly facing each other in the Spanish Super Cup final in January. They will also meet in the delayed 2019/2020 Copa del Rey final in April.  “We were very clear about how we had to play and how we could harm them, they did not have any clear chances and we were able to kill the game,” said Portu.  “By results I would say that it has been a very good year, but we have a bittersweet taste for all the fans who have not been able to enjoy our victories in 2020.” from Worl

London (AFP) – Sead Kolasinac has agreed to join Bundesliga side Schalke on loan for the rest of the season, Arsenal announced on Thursday. The Bosnia defender, 27, will head back to the club where he joined the youth set-up and went on to become a first-team regular before moving to the Premier League in June 2017. Kolasinac’s loan move is set to begin on January 4. The full-back has made 113 appearances for Arsenal. Arsenal technical director Edu told the club website: “Sead needs to be playing regularly, so we have decided together that a move back to Germany with Schalke will benefit him at this moment. “We will be keeping in close contact with Sead, and wish him huge success for the remainder of the season with Schalke.” Schalke are currently bottom of the Bundesliga with just four points and without a win all season. from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2JxdwMk

Nantes (France) (AFP) – Raymond Domenech was unveiled as the new boss of struggling French Ligue 1 side Nantes on Thursday, 10 years after his rollercoaster reign as France coach ended in a player strike and World Cup humiliation. “I’m happy, it’s a real pleasure….maybe I understand your problems better, I hope not to repeat my mistakes”, he told journalists. The 68-year-old Domenech was in charge of Les Bleus from 2004 until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The tournament was an utter fiasco with temperamental striker Nicolas Anelka sent home, players striking in response before the team was knocked out in the first round. That was the last time Domenech coached a team. If that was an excruciating experience for the combative Domenech, the next six months will be just as testing with Nantes down in 16th place in the table, three points above the relegation trapdoor. “The objective is to bring pleasure, to offer something coherent to this team,” said Domenech who has not coac

London (AFP) – Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani has been banned for three matches and fined £100,000 for using a racial term in a social media post, the Football Association announced on Thursday. The 33-year-old summer signing produced a match-winning display at Southampton on November 29, providing an assist for Bruno Fernandes before netting a two goals in a 3-2 comeback win. Cavani posted a social media message on Instagram shortly after the match, replying to a message of congratulations using the Spanish term “negrito” (small black person). The Uruguayan swiftly deleted the post and issued an apology after being made aware of the connotations, with the player releasing an apologetic statement saying he was “completely opposed to racism”. But the FA has now punished the striker after he admitted breaching FA Rule E3. “A comment posted on the Manchester United FC striker’s Instagram page was insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute,” the FA sai

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says players cannot “fake” their way into the Manchester United team, pointing to fierce competition for places and a stronger mentality as factors in their rise. The Old Trafford giants will kick off against Aston Villa on Friday second in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders Liverpool and with a game in hand. Solskjaer has so far been coy on talk about a push for a first Premier League crown since 2013 but was more forthcoming when it came to the advances made in his two years in the dugout. The United boss said the players had grown mentally stronger since he had arrived in 2018. “One, they’re two years older than when I came,” he said on Thursday. “Two, some of them are really strong personalities that we’ve brought in and they have really been a good influence. “I think we have competition for places, which means you cannot go around and think that you can just fake your way through being part of this team because you only

Rome (AFP) – Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan has rejoined Cagliari, where he played between 2010-14, on a second loan from Inter Milan, the Sardinian club announced Thursday. Nainggolan, who spent last season at Cagliari on loan, this time is on loan until the end of the season. Cagliari said that the club and player shared “a very strong bond”. “So strong that when on a hot afternoon at the end of August, the Belgian, Sardinian by adoption, emptied his locker in Asseminello, everyone hoped that it would not be a farewell.” from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3rKRmY6

London (AFP) – Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association over comments he made about referee Lee Mason. The Portuguese was highly critical of the official after his side’s Premier League match against Burnley on December 21. The FA said in a statement: “Nuno Espirito Santo has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to their Premier League match against Burnley FC on Monday December 21, 2020. “It is alleged that comments made by the head coach during a post-match interview constitute improper conduct as they were personally offensive to the match official and/or bring the game into disrepute.” Nuno has until January 5 to respond to the charge, the FA said. The Wolves boss took aim at Mason after the Burnley match, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for his side. “The referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League,” he said.  He added: “I just don’t want to see him more — that’s what I t

London (AFP) – Burnley’s new US owners said Thursday they are “fully prepared” to back manager Sean Dyche after completing their takeover of the Premier League club. US investment group ALK Capital has acquired a controlling 84 percent stake in Burnley after the deal was approved and ratified by the Premier League. Alan Pace, who succeeds Mike Garlick as chairman, revealed ALK were “very, very big fans” of Dyche and stood ready to give the green light to fresh investment in the squad during the January transfer window. Dyche, who has been in charge at Turf Moor since 2012, has overseen two promotions to the English top-flight for Burnley, who are in their fifth consecutive season in the Premier League. “The longevity and the stability of the management side has been something that has been very impactful from our prospective,” said Pace, a former president of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. The new chairman, 53, said in an interview with Burnley club media: “We are very pre

London (AFP) – James Milner says Liverpool have to “kick on” in 2021 after two disappointing draws left Manchester United breathing down their necks at the top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s defending champions head into the New Year with a three-point lead despite dropped points against strugglers West Brom and Newcastle. Arch-rivals United, who have dropped just four points since November 1, would go level on points with the leaders if they beat Aston Villa on Friday. Liverpool, who have played a game more than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, are next in action on Monday, away at Southampton. “I think it’s a positive (Liverpool are top) but it seems to be at this moment in time that nobody wants to take it by the scruff of the neck,” Milner told Liverpoolfc.com. “We’ve dropped points, everyone seems to be dropping points. United have had a good run and they’re probably the only team who are putting a run together. “It’s important that we need to kick on now and try to get a

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s priority in the January transfer window is to trim their bloated squad as he seeks to build on a mini-revival at the Premier League club. The Gunners were able to offload Emiliano Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer window while Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira departed on loan. But forgotten man Mesut Ozil remained at the Emirates along with Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac, who have barely featured in the Premier League this season. Arsenal have been linked with a loan move for Real Madrid playmaker Isco next month, but first of all technical director Edu will attempt to raise funds by moving on those who are surplus to requirements. “There are some players that are going to go on loan and going to leave and that is the priority at the moment,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom. “We cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions and we are looking to do that, and then we will see if we have

London (AFP) – US investment group ALK Capital has completed its takeover of Burnley, acquiring a controlling 84 percent stake in the Premier League club, it was announced on Thursday. Delaware-based ALK, which specialises in investments in the sport and media sectors, said its managing partner Alan Pace would take over from Mike Garlick as chairman. Pace, the former president of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, said the move marked “the start of an exciting journey for the entire Clarets family”. “With a rich heritage, a brilliant academy, and a passionate fan base, this club has solid foundations to build upon,” he said in a statement on the club’s website. Garlick, who had held just under 50 percent of the club’s shares, will remain on ALK Capital’s new board of directors at Burnley. He said the deal represented a “natural progression” for the club, who are in their fifth consecutive season in the English top-flight. “In Alan Pace and his team, we are welcoming committed

Johannesburg (AFP) – South African Premiership strugglers Chippa United have hired coach Dan Malesela for a fourth stint at the Port Elizabeth club, who sacked him three times. Former sports minister Fikile Mbalula reacted to the announcement by telling Chippa they must stop “abusing” Malesela and treating him “like a dog”. Chippa owner and millionaire Siviwe Mpengesi has made 28 coaching appointments since the perennial relegation candidates were promoted to the top flight eight years ago. Here, AFP Sport rounds up African football news: South Africa Chippa dumped former Lesotho star Lehlohonolo Seema after one win in eight league matches and hoped to replace him with Belgian Luc Eymael, who previously had successful stints with two South African clubs.  But the South African Football Association and the regional government in the eastern Cape, where Chippa are based, objected to hiring Eymael because of remarks the coach allegedly made in Tanzania this year. Young Africans sa

Tokyo (AFP) – Former Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda apologised for a disappointing spell at Brazil’s Botafogo as he bowed out ahead of a reported move to Europe. Honda, 34, said he accepted fans’ criticism after scoring only three goals in 27 matches during a coronavirus-disrupted year. “Criticism is natural and I am not making excuses, I am disappointed as well, I am so sorry,” he tweeted in Portuguese. Reports in Portugal have said that Honda, a former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow player and a one-time mainstay of Japan’s national team, will join Portuguese outfit Portimonense in January. Honda was welcomed by thousands of fans when he arrived in Brazil on February 7. But Botafogo have struggled this season and they are currently second from bottom in the Serie A table. Honda is among the most successful Japanese footballers. He scored 37 goals, including four at World Cups, in 98 appearances for the national team.  from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3hxjHN5

Berlin (AFP) – The Bundesliga returns this weekend after a two-week break with Borussia Dortmund’s American midfielder Giovanni Reyna leading a crop of talented teenagers rapidly becoming household names. Reyna, who marked his 18th birthday in November by extending his contract until 2025, scored his first Bundesliga goal on the opening day of this season. He has featured in all of Dortmund’s Bundesliga and Champions League games in 2020/21, scoring three league goals – including the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Frankfurt – and producing six assists. Reyna, an attacking midfielder who can play on either wing, needs a strong performance at home to Wolfsburg on Sunday after Dortmund’s shock 2-1 defeat to Union Berlin a fortnight ago. The result left Dortmund fifth in the league, eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who host Mainz on Sunday.  Against Wolfsburg, Dortmund could welcome back striker Erling Braut Haaland, who scored ten Bundesliga goals in eight games before being s

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga on Wednesday after Luis Suarez fired them to a 1-0 win over Getafe while Real Madrid could only draw 1-1 at Elche. Suarez struck in the 20th minute with a superb header from Yannick Carrasco’s cross to move Diego Simeone’s Atletico up to 35 points, two ahead of local rivals Madrid after they were pegged back by a Fidel Chaves penalty following Luka Modric’s early opener. Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Villarreal are all a further seven points back, with Barcelona 10 behind Atletico in sixth after their 1-1 draw with Eibar on Tuesday. Atletico have also played two fewer matches than reigning champions Madrid after a win emblematic of Simeone’s reign on his 500th match as coach of the club. “When I got on the plane to come here I thought that when I left the club (as a player) that I always wanted to come back,” said Simeone, who is in his 10th year as Atletico coach. “I found men (Koke, Saul Niguez) who wanted to

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool squandered the chance to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League in the final English top-flight match of 2020 after being held to a goalless draw by Newcastle on Wednesday. The 0-0 stalemate at St James’ Park means the champions go into the New Year with a three-point lead over Manchester United, having played a game more. But they will rue their missed chances in a match in which they enjoyed nearly three-quarters of possession. Mohamed Salah — top of the Premier League goalscoring charts with 13 goals — missed the target either side of half-time with just goalkeeper Karl Darlow to beat and strike-partner Roberto Firmino saw two headers superbly saved. Three days after lowly West Brom snatched a point at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s men, who have now won only two of their eight league away games this season, were frustrated once again, although it took a late goal-line clearance from Fabian Schar and Darlow’s brilliance

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool squandered the chance to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League in the final English top-flight match of 2020 after Newcastle held them to a goalless draw on Wednesday. The 0-0 draw at St James’ Park means the champions go into the New Year with a three-point lead over Manchester United, having played a game more. Nathaniel Phillips was handed a Premier League start for Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s defensive resources having been further depleted. With Joel Matip having joined long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the casualty list, Phillips was included along with former Magpies midfielder James Milner in two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with West Brom as Matip and Georginio Wijnaldum made way. Newcastle started brightly, with Callum Wilson forcing two saves from keeper Alisson Becker inside the opening 12 minutes and giving as good as they got for much of the half. However, Liverpool might ha

London (AFP) – The Premier League said on Wednesday it had “no plans” to pause the season and had confidence in its protocols after a third English top-flight match was postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks. Tottenham’s home match against Fulham was scrapped just three hours before the scheduled 1800 GMT kick-off after a number of Covid-19 cases at the visiting club. It is the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle’s match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday’s game between Everton and Manchester City. The Premier League announced on Tuesday there had been a season-high 18 positive tests in its latest round of testing across the competition, already compressed due to the late start to the season. Britain is struggling with another surge in the virus, with an overall death toll of more than 72,500 — one of the worst in the world. But league chiefs issued a statement late Wednesday expressing their determination to fulfil their fixtures.

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Suarez made sure that Atletico Madrid will end 2020 top of La Liga after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday. Suarez struck in the 20th minute with a superb header from Yannick Carrasco’s cross to take Diego Simeone’s side three points ahead of Real Madrid, who are in action at lowly Elche later on Wednesday. Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Villarreal are all a further six points back, with Barcelona 10 points behind Atletico in sixth after their 1-1 draw with Eibar on Tuesday. Even if Madrid win in the late kick-off they will stay behind Atletico thanks to their significantly inferior goal difference, which currently separates teams locked on the same points. Atletico will have also played two fewer matches than their local rivals come the end of the day’s fixtures after a win emblematic of Simeone’s reign on his 500th match as coach of the club. Thomas Lemar almost opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he crashed a shot off the near p

London (AFP) – Premier League chiefs postponed a third English top-flight match due to coronavirus outbreaks on Wednesday but said they had full confidence in their protocols despite calls for a “circuit-breaker”. Tottenham’s home match against Fulham was scrapped just three hours before the scheduled 1800 GMT kick-off after a number of Covid-19 cases at the visiting club. It is the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle’s match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday’s game between Everton and Manchester City. The Premier League announced on Tuesday there had been a season-high 18 positive tests in its latest round of testing across the competition, already compressed due to the late start to the season. Further down the English football pyramid, postponements are mounting, with seven of the 12 games scheduled for Tuesday in the third-tier League One called off due to coronavirus infections. Britain is struggling with another surge in the

London (AFP) – Manchester City were due to return to training on Wednesday after no new positive cases of coronavirus were reported following the latest round of testing. City re-tested their first-team squad and staff after Monday’s Premier League fixture at Everton was postponed due to previous positive tests for Covid-19. City announced two players — Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker — as well as two members of staff had tested positive on Christmas Day.  Three further positive tests were reported on Monday ahead of the scheduled game at Goodison Park. More tests will take place later in the week, the results of which will determine whether Sunday’s trip to Chelsea and next Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final at Manchester United can go ahead. The club’s training complex has reopened after deep cleaning. “Manchester City FC can confirm that first-team training will resume at City Football Academy this afternoon,” a club statement said. “The full Covid-19 bubble underwent testing y

Milan (AFP) – Mario Balotelli got off to a flying start for Monza on Wednesday after bagging his first goal for his new club just three minutes into his debut for Silvio Berlusconi’s ambitious team. Italy international Balotelli signed a deal until June for the Serie B side earlier this month and made an immediate impact when he met Carlos Augusto’s cross to put them ahead in a 3-0 win over league leaders Salernitana. Balotelli, who had been without a team since the summer before signing for the club from just outside Milan, also had a goal ruled out for a clear offside before he was substituted just after the hour mark. Antonino Barilla put the hosts two up just before the break when he slammed home from close range, and substitute Marco Armellino made sure of the three points which take Monza just two points behind Salernitana when he added a third deep into stoppage time. Third-placed Monza are also one point away from the two automatic promotion spots as former AC Milan chiefs

In the seven and a half years, NBC Sports Group have televised the Premier League across their various platforms. For the most part, U.S. fans have been very satisfied with the level of coverage they have received. But a strong case can be made that NBC’s best days of covering Premier League football are behind them. With Premier League rights coming up for bid next year for either a three or six year period beginning with the 2022-23 season, the time has never been better to review where NBC’s coverage has recently fallen short of the mark. When NBC embarked on broadcasting the Premier League in 2013, for an initial three-year period, they set an incredibly high standard for presentation and production. World Soccer Talk visited NBC Sports Group ’s Stamford, CT campus in the early days of NBC’s coverage of the Premier League. What we found then, and was conveyed over-the-air was a level of seriousness in covering a club soccer competition that at the time was unprecedented on Americ

London (AFP) – Tottenham’s home match against Fulham was postponed on Wednesday after a coronavirus outbreak at the visiting club but the Premier League said it had “full confidence” fixtures could continue despite a nationwide surge in cases. Fulham returned a number of positive test results on Tuesday and, with a number of players showing symptoms on Wednesday, the Premier League decided to call the match off just three hours before the scheduled 1800 GMT kick-off. It is the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle’s match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday’s game between Everton and Manchester City. The decision comes after the Premier League announced on Tuesday there had been a season-high 18 positive tests in its latest round of testing across the competition, already compressed due to the late start to the season. Britain is struggling with another surge in the virus. More than 71,000 people testing positive for the disease have no

London (AFP) – Tottenham’s Premier League home match against Fulham was postponed three hours before the scheduled kick-off on Wednesday after a coronavirus outbreak at the visiting club. Fulham returned a number of positive test results on Tuesday and, after more came in on Wednesday, the Premier League decided to call the match off. Kick-off was due to be at 1800 GMT. It is the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle’s match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday’s game between Everton and Manchester City. Fulham asked for the game to be called off after more of their players felt unwell, which the Premier League board sanctioned on Wednesday. The entire Cottagers squad will now be re-tested. The league said in a statement: “Fulham FC’s match at Tottenham Hotspur, due to be played at 6:00 pm this evening, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon. “Fulham lodged a request with the Premier League Board to

London (AFP) – Tottenham’s Premier League home match against Fulham was postponed less than three hours before the scheduled kick-off on Wednesday after a coronavirus outbreak at the visiting club. Fulham returned a number of positive test results on Tuesday and, after more came in on Wednesday, the Premier League decided to call the match off. Kick-off was due to be at 1800 GMT. It is the third top-flight game to be wiped out by the virus, following Newcastle’s match with Aston Villa earlier this month and Monday’s game between Everton and Manchester City. from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3aVYLhA