CAF Confederations Cup: Zerdab puts CS Constantine in control

28 February 2014 20:44

Zahir Zerdab scored the only goal of the match to put CS Constantine in a commanding position in their first-round clash with Red Lions.

Neither side could find the net in the opening period of the first-leg clash, but Zerdab came up with the goods three minutes before the hour mark to send the Algerian outfit into the second leg with a one-goal advantage.

CS Constantine reached this stage with a 4-3 aggregate victory over Nigelec of Nigeria, while Liberian strugglers Red Lions were playing their first match of the tournament after preliminary round opponents Estrela de Cantanhez withdrew.

In Friday’s other clash, Kondzo and Bayelsa United played out a goalless draw to leave the tie wide open ahead of the reverse fixture.

Nigerian side Bayelsa could be forgiven for feeling rusty, having not played a competitive game since the end of their domestic season in October

The second legs of each tie will be played next weekend, while there are a number of other first-leg matches this Saturday as 12 more teams look to give themselves a fighting chance of reaching the next round.

La Liga Preview: Barcelona v Almeria

28 February 2014 20:35

Adriano says Sunday’s visit of Almeria will give Barcelona a chance to get over last week’s surprise defeat to Real Sociedad.

Despite Sociedad challenging strongly for a UEFA Europa League spot this year, Barcelona’s third league reverse of the season still came as a surprise and the result allowed Real Madrid to move three points clear at the summit.

Barca’s two title rivals, Real and Atletico Madrid, play each other on Sunday. A win for the latter would give Gerardo Martino’s men would have the opportunity to regain top spot with three points against Almeria.

Brazilian full-back Adriano sees Sunday’s game as an opportunity to move on from a disappointing defeat last week.

“We are very much looking forward to this chance to turn the page following the game at Anoeta,” he told the club’s official website.

“All we are thinking about is winning everything from now on.”

Gerard Pique, Cuenca and Jonathan dos Santos have all done recovery work in training after picking up slight knocks, while left-back Jordi Alba trained as normal on Friday after a hamstring injury forced him to miss the defeat at Sociedad.

Barcelona thumped Rayo Vallecano 6-0 in their last game at Camp Nou, and struggling Almeria will have to halt a worrying trend if they are to take anything from the game.

Barca have won each of the past five meetings between the sides, scoring 21 goals and conceding just once.

Almeria lie just two places and four points above the relegation zone, having thus far struggled in their first season back in the top flight.

A goalless draw with fellow strugglers Malaga last time out did little to help their cause.

Francisco’s men have lost four away matches in a row, shipping 10 goals and mustering just one in reply, but the head coach at least has a fully-fit squad to choose from on this occasion.

A positive result would provide a huge boost to Almeria, especially with the two teams immediately below them, Real Valladolid and Malaga, facing each other 24 hours earlier.

Adriano was on target – together with Lionel Messi – when Almeria and Barcelona last met in September, as the champions ran out 2-0 winners.

Premier League Preview: Tottenham v Cardiff City

28 February 2014 20:01

Tottenham aim to buck a trend of poor results after European games when Cardiff City visit White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Sunday.

In the nine league matches that have immediately followed a UEFA Europa League tie this season, Spurs have taken just 10 points, losing on five occasions, including the 5-0 reverse at home to Liverpool in December that eventually cost Andre Villas-Boas his job.

Tim Sherwood took the reins thereafter and his side have lost just twice in 11 league matches since then.

Thursday night saw Spurs come from two goals down in the tie against Dnipro to eventually prevail 3-2 on aggregate and progress to the last 16 of the competition, but Sherwood and his players hold loftier ambitions for next season.

A win against Cardiff is crucial if Tottenham are to maintain their hopes of a top-four finish and qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Spurs are currently fifth, six points adrift of Liverpool, and Christian Eriksen, who scored the first goal in Thursday’s comeback win, knows the importance of Sunday’s game.

“We need to continue winning to get closer to what we want next season, which is the Champions League,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s my first season in the Premier League and I can see how close all the teams are.

“There are no easy games, but we have to try and make this one by scoring goals again.”

One of Tottenham’s wins following a European tie did come in the reverse fixture, when Paulinho’s stoppage-time goal sealed a 1-0 victory in Wales.

Cardiff, in the bottom three, desperately need to find form to avoid an instant return to the Championship.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Cardiff have picked up just four points from seven Premier League outings and the Norwegian insists his players are fully aware of the perilous position they find themselves in.

“When you get disappointing results you regroup, correct mistakes, work hard and get a response and I have this week,” he said.

“We know where we are. We are in this situation with other teams. Some have had a good run, but they are still in it.

“We have not had results we deserve, but we are still in with a chance.”

Jermain Defoe has this week left Tottenham to formally join Toronto, while Danny Rose (knee) Etienne Capoue (ankle) and Kyle Walker (thigh) remain doubts.

Gary Medel and Jordon Mutch are thought to be in contention for Cardiff after recovering from knocks, with Craig Bellamy available again after serving a three-match suspension.

Premier League Preview: Swansea City v Crystal Palace

28 February 2014 19:56

Tom Ince’s performance will be closely scrutinised when Crystal Palace try to further compound a miserable week for Swansea City on Sunday.

The talented Blackpool winger was a confirmed transfer target for Swansea during the January transfer window before eventually opting to move to Selhurst Park on loan for the rest of the season.

Ince has wasted little time in making an impact, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win against West Brom, and has suggested that Swansea will struggle to deal with Palace’s attacking players this weekend, comments that could see him singled out for a hostile reception at the Liberty Stadium.

“Swansea play nice football,” Ince told The South London Press this week. “But will they be able to handle the threat we give them with Glenn Murray, Marouane Chamakh, Cameron Jerome, Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and myself?”

A look at the Premier League table suggests that Palace may not be as prolific going forward as Ince believes is the case.

In fact, no team in the top flight have scored fewer goals in 2013-14 than Palace, who have netted 18 times in 26 games. Nevertheless, the London club sit just two points behind Swansea thanks to the galvanising influence of Tony Pulis.

Pulis has won seven of his 16 games in all competitions since taking charge, a run that has propelled Palace out of the relegation zone.

The Welshman’s next immediate concern is addressing the team’s inconsistent streak as Palace have won and then lost the following game over an eight-match streak that stretches back to the start of January.

Swansea welcome Palace with coach Garry Monk desperate for a response following UEFA Europa League heartache at Napoli on Thursday.

Last season’s League Cup winners came agonisingly close to progressing to the last 16 of the tournament, only for two goals in the final 12 minutes at the Stadio San Paolo to leave Monk’s side deflated as Napoli won 3-1 on aggregate.

That setback in Italy followed a 4-3 defeat against Liverpool last Sunday when Swansea twice battled back to draw level at 2-2 and then 3-3 before being undone by Jordan Henderson’s late goal at Anfield.

A five-game winless streak has proved to be an eye-opener into the topsy-turvy nature of management for Monk.

Swansea can at least take heart from the fact that they have won the last four encounters between the two sides.

Nathan Dyer picked up a heel injury against Napoli, but should be fit to face Palace, for whom Jerome Thomas (back) is available again.

Serie A Preview: Milan v Juventus

28 February 2014 19:37

Milan face a stern test to maintain their mini-revival under Clarence Seedorf on Sunday when Serie A leaders Juventus visit San Siro.

Under the stewardship of the Dutchman, Milan have played six league matches, winning four and losing just once in a 3-1 reverse at Napoli.

Despite the upturn in fortunes, a massive 31-point gap separates Milan, who have endured a massively disappointing campaign on the whole and sit ninth, from their fellow Italian giants.

In what has traditionally been a match that has helped determine the destination of the Serie A title, Juve will start as strong favourites having not been beaten in the league since October, a run that spans 17 matches.

There appears little reason to suggest that Juventus’ unbeaten run will end in Milan, but midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is determined to spring a surprise on Antonio Conte’s men.

“We need a victory against a big team, for reasons relating to the table, but also for our self-esteem,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“And with Juventus it is the right night in which to do it. We know that we have the capability and quality to play a great game and to cause them trouble.”

Milan have serious doubts over the fitness of striker Mario Balotelli, who picked up a shoulder injury in the recent UEFA Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

The Italy international trained separately from the rest of the squad on Friday.

Juventus are able to call on one of the league’s deadliest partnerships in the form of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.

The duo have claimed 24 league goals between them this season and were rested for Juventus’ midweek 2-0 victory at Trabzonspor in the UEFA Europa League.

Tevez and Llorente can therefore expect to be fresh and ready, along with influential midfielder Paul Pogba, who was withdrawn in the first half on Thursday once Juventus had effectively confirmed their progression to the last-16.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is another forward option for Conte, the on-loan Southampton man having bagged his second goal for the club against Trabzonspor.

One disappointment for Juve is that influential midfielder Arturo Vidal will sit out the match through suspension, but the Chilean is confident his team-mates will rise to the challenge in his absence.

“I’m gutted I can’t play against Milan,” he told Juve’s official website. “But I know my team-mates will play well even without me.”