Bayern extend Bundesliga lead

Undefeated champions Bayern Munich continued their seemingly unstoppable charge towards the Bundesliga title, crushing Hoffenheim 4-0 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top.

With second-placed VfL Wolfsburg losing 3-2 at Schalke 04, Bayern are now seven points clear, having yet to lose in any of the three competitions they are in this season.

Mario Goetze drilled in from 23 metres with Bayern's first shot on goal in the 23rd minute and Poland international Robert Lewandowski headed in his sixth of the campaign from a pin-point cross by Arjen Robben.

The Dutchman then added a third late in the game with a fine chip for the Bavarians, who welcomed back Bastian Schweinsteiger as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since the World Cup final having recovered from a niggling knee injury.

Substitute Sebastian Rode completed the rout three minutes from time from a Schweinsteiger assist to lift Bayern to 30 points. Hoffenheim finished with 10 men following the late dismissal of Adam Szalai.

Fellow Champions League club Bayer Leverkusen eased past Hanover 96 3-1 with forward Stefan Kiessling scoring his first league goal since August.

Leverkusen are fourth on 20 points, level with third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, who slumped to a 3-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Schalke exploded into action against in-form Wolfsburg, scoring three times in the opening 25 minutes as they prepare to meet Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.

But Wolfsburg cut the deficit with goals from Ivica Olic and Nicklas Bendtner and Naldo hit the bar in stoppage time as Schalke hung on to move up to sixth on 17.

Last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, who visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at promoted Paderbon, continuing their erratic season.

There was further bad news for last season's runners-up as Marco Reus, who had only just returned to the side, was taken off midway through the second half with yet another injury after a rough challenge.

Dortmund are in 14th place on 11 points, two above last-placed VfB Stuttgart.

Inzaghi, Mancini relishing Milan derby

AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi is in confident mood ahead of the derby against Roberto Mancini's Inter as the battle of Milan takes centre stage in Serie A on Sunday.

Inzaghi's side come into the fixture in seventh place and 11 points behind leaders Juventus, who are in action on Saturday away to Lazio, but the former international marksman says his team have nothing to fear against an Inter team just one point below them.

"May the best team win, but I sincerely believe that it will be difficult to be stronger than us," Inzaghi said on the eve of the match as he also paid tribute to Mancini.

"'Mancio' has more experience in these kind of matches as a coach but myself, I have the emotion of all these matches as a player.

"A derby is different, it is not to be played, it is to be won!" added the 41-year-old who spent 11 years as a player, scoring 73 goals, at Milan.

Brazilian defender Alex is ruled out for Milan with injury which hardly helps a leaky rearguard that has already conceded 16 goals in 11 matches.

Inzaghi can however call upon former Chelsea and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres who has scored just one goal this season since his move from Stamford Bridge.

"I am happy with him and I hope he is going to break out. Fernando can carry us to the upper part of the table." continued Inzaghi.

Mancini, who has seen his side pick up four wins against three defeats in 11 outings, believes the Milan derby has a unique charm of its own and will bring out the best in both teams.

"It's the only derby where the two teams have the habit of being in contention for all the big competitions such as the Scudetto (Italian title) and Champions League," explained the former Manchester City manager.

"We're talking about two teams who are the history of the Calcio (Serie A) so we need to start the best we can, perhaps get a bit of luck and above all play good football.

"Pippo (Inzaghi) has a great history as a player and it's his first experience (as a coach) and he could have a great future. Milan know a young coach can sometimes get it wrong but it's not easy to start (as a coach), because you think you know everything," added Mancini.

Atletico close on leaders with Malaga win

Atletico Madrid bounced back from their surprise defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break with a 3-1 win over Malaga on Saturday to move to within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

The hosts looked on course for a comfortable victory as Tiago nodded them into an early lead from Koke's corner before Antoine Griezmann tapped home at the end of a flowing move to double the lead just before halftime.

Roque Santa Cruz briefly gave the visitors, who had won their previous five La Liga games, hope when he volleyed home Samu Castillejo's wonderful cross 26 minutes from time, but their hopes of a point dissipated when Samuel Sanchez was shown a second yellow card just nine minutes later.

Diego Godin wrapped up the three points as he powered home a header from close range seven minutes from time, but Atletico also ended the game with 10 men as captain Gabi picked up his second booking of the afternoon in the closing stages.

Real Madrid can restore their four-point lead over Atletico when they visit Basque minnows Eibar, while Barcelona host Sevilla later on Saturday.

Atletico had a strong penalty appeal turned down early on when Koke's fierce strike was deflected behind by the arms of Sergio Sanchez, yet it mattered little as from the resulting corner Diego Simeone's men continued their incredible run of scoring from set-pieces this season when Tiago flicked home Koke's cross at the near post.

However, the home side also showed their ability on the ball in their second goal as a lovely interchange between Arda Turan and Mario Mandzukic freed the Turkish international to roll the ball across goal for Griezmann to slot in his fifth goal of the season.

Gabi should have made it 3-0 when he pulled a shot wide at the start of the second period, while Carlos Kameni did well to parry substitute Raul Jimenez's powerful header as Atletico continued to push forward.

Yet Malaga got back into the game with a moment of real quality as Castillejo's dipping cross was acrobatically turned home by Santa Cruz on the stretch.

Godin then had to make a vital interception to prevent Sanchez the chance of scoring an unlikely equaliser, but the visitors' momentum was disrupted when he was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Griezmann passed up two clear chances to seal the three points as firstly he fired into the side-netting after a huge error from Kameni presented the Frenchman with a clear sight of goal and Godin and Jimenez waiting for a cut-back.

The former Sociedad player then tried to be too unselfish as he overhit his intended pass for Jimenez when he ought to have gone for goal himself with just Kameni to beat moments later.

Those wasted opportunities weren't to prove costly, though, as after another Kameni flap, Tiago's looped cross was powered home by Godin at the back post.

Newcastle fourth as Sissoko sinks QPR

Newcastle climbed to fourth in the Premier League after Moussa Sissoko's second half strike clinched a 1-0 win over QPR on Saturday.

Sissoko's goal 12 minutes from time at St James' Park was enough to give Alan Pardew's revitalised side their sixth successive win just weeks after they looked destined for another season of struggle.

Pardew's men have not conceded a goal in 432 minutes and will be starting to dream of securing a place in European competition next season.

However, there was heartache for Newcastle's Ryan Taylor, starting his first Premier League game in 993 days after two serious knee injuries, when he limped off in tears after suffering another injury in the first half.

QPR slumped to the bottom of the table after their fifth defeat in their last seven matches.

Joey Barton was handed the QPR captain's armband on his return to Newcastle and he was given a warm welcome from the home fans after his four-year spell on Tyneside.

But Pardew's side were first to threaten when a sloppy back-pass from QPR defender Steven Caulker put goalkeeper Robert Green under pressure.

Green's clearance slammed into Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback, with the rebound bouncing into the side-netting.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp was furious with a careless piece of play that almost proved costly and he leapt to his feet, bawling and hollering at his defenders.

Taylor came close to marking his return with a dream goal when he drove a 20-yarder down the middle and Green had to fist it away.

But a day that had started so positively for Taylor suddenly turned sour in the 34th minute as he had to come off with what appeared to be a knee problem.

He hobbled down the tunnel in tears and even the crowd's warm applause couldn't ease the pain as Yoan Gouffran came on in his place.

QPR went close midway through the second half when Karl Henry worked a yard of space for a deep cross to Bobby Zamora, who turned a twisting effort on to the roof of the net.

Substitute Niko Kranjcar, who had replaced the injured Sandro on the hour, gave QPR fresh impetus, but the home side still looked the more likely to score, with Ayoze Perez testing Green with a first-time shot from Gouffran's 74th-minute cross.

Newcastle took the points in the 78th minute when Sammy Ameobi unlocked the QPR defence with a cute pass to Sissoko, who collected it before spinning and hammering in a rising drive from 15 yards into the top corner.

Chelsea down West Brom, City beat Swansea

Chelsea coasted to a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, who were reduced to 10 men for more than an hour, to maintain their unbeaten start to the season at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Goals from Diego Costa, who has now scored 11 times in his 10 Premier League appearances, and Eden Hazard, put Chelsea in control even before West Brom defender Claudio Yacob was red-carded in the 28th minute for a two-footed lunge on Costa.

Champions Manchester City stayed in touch at the top when they came from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium with Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure finding the target.

Chelsea have 32 points from 12 games, followed by Southampton on 25 from 11 and Manchester City on 24 points from 12 games.

West Ham United, who started the day in fourth place on 19 points, slipped back after losing 2-1 at Everton.

Newcastle United continued their revival with a sixth successive victory and moved up to fourth with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers – at least until Arsenal play Manchester United in the day's late game at the Emirates Stadium.

In the day's other games, Leicester City failed to score for the fifth successive league match in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland.

Burnley won away for the first time and climbed off the bottom of the table, beating Stoke City 2-1 with Danny Ings scoring twice in two minutes early in the match.

Ancelotti dey sweat ontop Modric injury

Real Madrid coachi Carlo Ancelotti don dey scratch head how hin go take play dia La Liga match becos hin sabi Croatia midfilda Luka Modric don injure.

Madrid go jam Eibar wen lig resume from de break wey dem carri go play national team match and de yawa now be say e fit be till Janaury bifor Modric go fit tap ball again.

To jam Sami Khedira and Toni Kroos for de midfild go be de koko but again na how dem go take open space be de wahala.

"Khedira and Kroos dem na baba world champion,"Ancelotti tok for Spain radio.

"I for like make I try Isco and Kroos becos hin dey gif us beta swagga, but de wahala again dia na say we no go solid for dia."de Italo manaja yarn.

Anyone wey play dia no go matter becos Madrid go kontinu dia beta form for dis seasin agains Eibar dem wey dia budget for one year na around 20 milla for euros, and dat na de kulele wey Ronaldo alone dey kolet everi year for Madrid.

Ronaldo sef hit beta form dis seasin as hin helep Madrid grab 52 gols for all de kompitishun wey dem play dis seasin.

"I for love dis experiece die becos we stadium go full gana and to play agains all dis sabi playas na baba,"Eibar strika Mikel tok

"We mus respec dem say na one of de best team for dis world be dat but e no mean say we go fear dem,"hin add.

Afta 11 La Liga matches, Real dey front for tabul wit two points for Barca front as De Catalans go play Sevilla wey dey numba five.

Lionel Messi go get de chance to add to hin gols take break Telmo Zarra rekos of 251 gols for La Liga. Na 250 Messi don nak since October 18 wey dem play Eibar.

Atletico Madrid wey be defending champions dey four points for Madrid bak and dem go dey house play Real Sociedad wey just carri foma Manchester United manaja David Moyes to become dia coachito

NFF no wan tok on Keshi matta

Even as de Supa Eagus no gree kwalify for ness year Nations cup wey go happen for Equatorial Guinea, NFF pipu wey dey control all futbol matta for Naija neva tok anything as per de level wey Oga Stephen Keshi dey for now.

Since de day wey Keshi don return as de Supa Eagus coachi, NFF neva follow am tok hin contract matta wey hin go take work as Naija coachi.

As Naija no kwalify for de 2015 Nations cup, na hin de NFF pipu kon enta hall do dia family meeting, but wetin kon make all amebo open dia mouth yakata be say de NFF no gree say pim on Keshi matta.

De NFF kon yarn for dia family meeting say make foma Supa Eagus coachi, Shaibu Amodu resume as de NFF technical director, and na Emmanuel Ikpeme go be hin assistant.

NFF pipu also yarn say dem go send plenty Naija guymen like Amodu, Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal, Yisa Shofoluwe, Austin Okocha, Ann Chiejine, Florence Omagbemi, Edema Fuludu, Dahiru Sadi, Siji Lagunju, David Ngodigha as well as five coaches from the Nigeria Professional FOotball League (NPFL), Paul Aigbogun, Kelechi Emeteole, Salisu Yusuf, John Obuh and Ladan Bosso go Yankee for beta futbol training wey go helep dem dey discover Naija playas wey sabee tap soccer.

NFF pipu also constitute on kain study group for dia meeting, and na foma Supa Eagus skippo, Austin JJ Okocha go be dia Oga patapata.

Other pipu wey dey for inside de technical study group be Benedict Akwuegbu, Celestine Babayaro, Michael Obiku, Darlington Omodiagbe, Finidi George, Taribo West, Tijani Babangida, Kashimawo Laloko, Henry Nwosu, Peter Rufai, Dominic Iorfa, Nwankwo Kanu, Dahiru Sadi, Gbenga Ogunbote, Mutiu Adepoju, Florence Omagbemi, Mercy Akide-Udoh, Ann Chiejine, Eucharia Uche, Salisu Yusuf, Alloy Agu and Benedict Iroha.

Ribery unmoved by Reus rumour

Bayern Munich veteran Franck Ribery says he is not concerned about the possible arrival of Germany winger Marco Reus at the Bavarian giants for next season.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge last month drew attention to the release clause, worth 25 million euros, in Reus's Borussia Dortmund contract, which means the 25-year-old could join the Bavarian giants at the end of the season.

But France winger Ribery says he would have no problem battling the Germany star for a place on Bayern's left wing.

"He's a good player, but I have been here for a while, even if I will be 32 (next April)," Ribery told German magazine Kicker.

"I feel good, things are going well here.

"I'm still an important player, you still have to reckon with me here."

Ribery has won all possible trophies with Bayern since joining Munich in 2007.

He was part of the team which won the treble of European, league and cup titles in 2013 and with Pep Guardiola's side currently four points clear in the table, they are on course to win a third straight Bundesliga title.

"I know what I have brought this club and what I can still bring to the side," said Ribery.

"I still want to win titles and want to work. I am still hungry."

With Ribery on Bayern's left flank and Arjen Robben on the right, the pair have been a potent attacking force for Guardiola's Bayern, but injuries means it is rare for them both to start together these days.

"When we're both 100 percent fit, that is a big advantage for the team," said Ribery.

"This is the best team I have ever been a part of.

"When everything runs like normal, we are hard to stop in the Bundesliga, but in Europe, Real Madrid could be a hindrance.

"We still have a few players missing like (Javi) Martinez, (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, Thiago (Alcantara), (Holger) Badstuber, now (Philipp) Lahm and (David) Alaba are also injured, but with them back, we will only improve."

Ribery has only just returned from a knee injury and was outstanding in creating two goals in Bayern's 4-0 league romp at Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago.

"I was worried about a bit of a reaction on my knee, it's still not an easy thing for me," he added.

"I feel good, but the knee is not yet in top condition."

Ribery said his international career is over and ruled out a return to the France shirt having won 81 caps for Les Bleus between 2006 and 2014.

"For me, it's over with the national team and I enjoy the international break now," he said.

"I can look after my family and I, so as things are, it's going well for me."

Bayern begin life without Lahm

With the international break over and the Bundesliga back in action, defending champions Bayern Munich are looking over their shoulder at Wolfsburg.

Bayern lead the league after 11 matches and will next face Hoffenheim on Saturday, while Wolfsburg are enjoying an eight-game winning streak across all competitions ahead of their visit to Schalke.

At the other end of the table, Borussia Dortmund hope they have turned things around after completing their worst start to the league. Dortmund next face Paderborn on Saturday.

Also, the stakes will be high on Sunday in the northern derby between struggling rivals Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen.

Here are some things to know ahead of this weekend's matches:

BAYERN BLOW

It's been a mixed week for Bayern.

The club was dealt a blow with captain Philip Lahm ruled out for up to three months after breaking his right ankle, while director of sport Matthias Sammer's contract was extended until 2018.

The club also confirmed former president Uli Hoeness will return in some form if he gains day parole from his three and a half-year prison term for tax evasion.

Lahm's loss is a big setback for coach Pep Guardiola, who previously described the versatile defender as the most intelligent player he has trained. Whether in midfield or at the back, Lahm could be relied upon to read the game, snuff out chances, complete his passes and lead the side with his calm demeanor.

Bayern was already missing Javi Martinez, David Alaba, Thiago Alcantara, Holger Badstuber, Claudio Pizarro and backup goalkeepers Tom Starke and Pepe Reina.

Bastian Schweinsteiger's return to training is a timely one, though Guardiola will be thinking of other alternatives for Saturday's visit of Hoffenheim.

WOLFSBURG WINNING

Wolfsburg's 2-0 win over Hamburg was the club's sixth in a row in the Bundesliga, keeping the side four points off Bayern's pace.

Only Bayern has scored more goals, 27 compared to 22, while Wolfsburg's defence is the third best in the league.

Kevin de Bruyne is emerging as the side's key player. The Belgian has set up nine goals already - more than any other in the Bundesliga - while his commitment and work rate are helping in other ways, too.

The squad are in good shape ahead of Saturday's game at Schalke. Ricardo Rodriguez, Marcel Schaefer and Daniel Caligiuri have all shaken off knocks, while Christian Traesch's recovery from flu gives Dieter Hecking a full squad to choose from.

SCHALKE STUTTERING

Former Chelsea coach Roberto di Matteo was supposed to turn Schalke's season around after taking over from Jens Keller. But there has been no discernible improvement under the Swiss-Italian, who has claimed six points from four Bundesliga games.

Schalke is mid-table, five points above last-place Stuttgart and 13 behind Bayern. So far, there hasn't been much evidence that the all-important Champions League qualification places are within reach.

"We have to start upping our performances now and being successful on a consistent basis," Schalke board chairman Clemens Toennies told Kicker magazine. "Then we can still achieve our aims."

DORTMUND DESPERATE

Dortmund needs another win against promoted Paderborn on Saturday to get away from the relegation zone.

The 2011 and 2012 champions were in last place before their deserved but somewhat fortuitous 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten Borussia Moenchengladbach.

While injuries have played their part, defensive lapses and a lack of efficiency up front have cost Dortmund dearly, underlining the importance of departed striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp hopes Marco Reus will have recovered from the ankle injury he sustained against 'Gladbach, while both Jakub Blaszczykowski and Nuri Sahin played in a practice match on Tuesday as they make their ways back from serious knee injuries.

NORTHERN NERVES

Traditional rivals Hamburg and Bremen have clashed more often than any other sides in the Bundesliga. Sunday's derby in Hamburg will be the 101st league meeting and 146th overall, with Bremen boasting 55 victories to Hamburg's 50.

But their glory days seem a long time ago. It's been 10 years since Bremen won the double, while Hamburg's last league title was 31 years ago.

Both sides are fighting relegation this season after firing their coaches. Bremen have momentum under new coach Viktor Skripnik with two wins from two games, while Hamburg are a point behind with the worst attack in the league (four goals scored in 11 games).

Di Matteo's Schalke hunt Wolves

Roberto di Matteo's Schalke hope to end Wolfsburg's eight-match winning streak in the Bundesliga on Saturday in their final warm-up before hosting his former club Chelsea in the Champions League.

Second-placed Wolves are unbeaten in their last 10 games and are targeting a seventh straight Bundesliga win at Schalke's Veltins Arena with the Royal Blues 11th in the table.

Di Matteo has so far refused point blank to talk about Chelsea, who sacked him in November 2012 just six months after he had steered them to the Champions League title as caretaker coach.

Schalke are second in their Champions League group, three points behind leaders Chelsea, having earned a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in September and host Jose Mourinho's side on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old Di Matteo has won all three of his home games since taking charge last month, but Wolves is his biggest test and his side are just one place higher in the league than when he took charge.

"I don't know if there's a favourite for this game, but for sure we're the home team and we've got to take the initiative," said Di Matteo.

"Wolfsburg has a very good record and they have a lot of quality in their squad, which is well balanced.

"They have a stable defence, conceded few goals and are very good on the counter-attack."

Di Matteo will be without suspended defender Denis Aogo, forward Jefferson Farfan is out with a knee cartilage problem while midfielder Julian Draxler and defender Sead Kolasinac are on the long-term injured list.

He has potential problems looming in January as both Cameroon internationals Eric Choupo-Moting and Joel Matip will be involved with the Africa Cup of Nations (from January 17-February 8).

Japan defender Atsuto Uchida is also set to miss most of Schalke's winter training camp because of January's Asian Cup, hosted by Australia, before the Bundesliga resumes on January 30.

Schweini back in Bayern squad

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been included in the German champions' squad for the Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim on Saturday after being passed fit following a long injury absence.

The Germany captain has not played a competitive game for the Bavarians since the World Cup final in July, sidelined with a nagging knee injury.

"Bastian has been included in the squad and that is good news," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters on Friday. "He is back and that means one more player for our squad.

Guardiola was not sure, however, if the player would feature in his starting line-up.

"I don't know if he will play from the start," he said.

The 30-year-old holding midfielder's return could not have come at a better time with Bayern captain Philipp Lahm ruled out for months with a broken ankle this week.

"He was my most important player and this makes it very hard for us," said the Spaniard of Lahm's absence.

Bayern, who are top of the Bundesliga with a four-point advantage, are also missing David Alaba, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez as well as Holger Badstuber.

Bayern, who have secured their Champions League group top spot and a place in the competition's knockout stage, travel to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Real enter land of Eibar's little people

Real Madrid's superstars, flying high at the top of La Liga, enter the land of Spanish football's little people on Saturday when they take on humble Eibar in the Basque country.

Unlike Real's cavernous, fabled Bernabeu with its 85 000-capacity, Eibar's Ipurua stadium has room for just 5 000 fans – they have had to build temporary seating to accommodate fans wanting to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The contrast between the two adversaries is also highlighted by their respective budgets – 10-time European champions Real are worth 500 million euros.

Eibar, promoted last season, survive on 30 times less.

Despite the gulf in class and financial resources, Eibar have not been intimidated in La Liga where they sit comfortably in mid-table.

"At the Ipurua, we can cause trouble for anybody," said Eibar midfielder Saul Berjon.

However, Real are expected to keep rolling on as they start the weekend with a two-point lead over Barcelona.

They are undefeated in 13 matches in all competitions, scoring 52 goals and conceding just eight, although their planning for the trip to Eibar hasn't been helped by a thigh injury to influential midfielder Luka Modric.

He will be out for around three months after picking up the injury while on international duty with Croatia.

"It's a big blow for the club because Luka had been in great form," said German teammate Toni Kroos.

Barcelona host Sevilla, who are just two points behind them, facing a potential crisis of confidence having seen a six-point lead over Real disappear over the autumn.

Luis Enrique's team now face a testing stretch of games – after Sevilla, they travel to Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League, go to Valencia, face a derby against Espanyol before completing their European duties against Paris Saint Germain.

That game is likely to decide top spot in Group F and a seeded spot in the knockout round in the new year.

"We must get back to rediscovering beautiful football which characterises the team," said Enrique, whose gamble on signing Luis Suarez has yet to pay dividends with the controversial Uruguayan striker still seeking a first league goal.

Superstar Lionel Messi did little to calm Barcelona nerves this week when he gave an interview to an Argentine newspaper where he said he wished to remain at the Camp Nou but that "sometimes, things don't go the way you want them to".

Messi is without a goal in three matches in La Liga but on Saturday he once again gets a chance to go past Telmo Zarra's record of 251 goals to become the leading all-time scorer in the history of the league.

Meanwhile, seven months after being sacked by Manchester United, David Moyes returns to the dugout as coach of Real Sociedad with a trip to Deoprtivo La Coruna in store for the Scot.

Valencia are at Levante where they find themselves in the midst of a bizarre legal wrangle.

News website Plaza Deportiva reported the club are in dispute with DC Comics in the United States who claim that the club's bat logo infringes their Batman design.

Pair returns to boost Barcelona

Barcelona has recovered defender Jeremy Mathieu and midfielder Rafina from injury in time for Saturday's Spanish league match against Sevilla.

Mathieu had been sidelined for three weeks since injuring his right leg in a 1-0 loss to Celta Vigo, while Rafina pulled a leg muscle during the international break.

Andres Iniesta has also returned to practice but is still awaiting medical clearance from team doctors.

Barcelona trails leader Real Madrid by two points after 11 matches.

Norwegian teen linked to Real

Norwegian football teen Martin Odegaard has been offered a five-year contract with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, a report said Friday.

Spanish daily Marca reported that a possible signing could take place next month as Odegaard turns 16 on December 17.

The report suggested that terms included that the 15-year-old could continue to play on loan for his Norwegian team Stromsgodset or another Spanish premiership club.

Stromsgodset and Odeegard's father and agent declined to comment.

"There are so many rumours about Martin, and we will stick to our line that we will not comment until there is something concrete," Odegaard's father, Hans Erik, told the Drammens Tidende.

Odegaard and his father have earlier declined to comment reports that they recently visited Real Madrid's training facility.

A possible move from the Norwegian league would benefit Odegaard's development, football commentator Petter Veland said.

"I believe that the sooner he can play at a higher level, the better," said Veland, who follows Spanish football closely.

"The level at Real Madrid's first side is too high, but he could get good match experience with another La Liga side," he told Norwegian daily Dagbladet.

Odegaard has grabbed headlines this year as the youngest Norway football international, following his breakthrough in Norway's top flight.

Prior to Odegaard's debut for Norway at the end of August, his father said at least 30 European clubs had expressed interest in him.

Messi is happy at Barca - Enrique

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is convinced Lionel Messi is happy at the club despite the Argentine hinting this week that he could be open to a move away from the Nou Camp.

Messi said that ideally he would stay at Barca forever before adding that not everything happens in the way you like and that it was a "complicated" situation.

The comments sparked speculation over whether Barca would be prepared to cash in on their most prized asset and who would be able to pay the transfer fee and his salary which is over 20 million euros ($24.8 million) a season.

"I've only heard Leo saying that he is delighted at Barca and that there is no problem at all," Luis Enrique told a news conference ahead of Barca's la Liga clash with Sevilla on Saturday.

"I am not interested in the speculation and the opinions. I just hear the message from him that he is happy and proud to play for Barca."

Messi, now 27, has not been playing football with the same look of enjoyment which characterised his play in his early years at the Catalan club.

Barca have made a stuttering start to the season in Luis Enrique's first campaign in charge and are two points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.

They responded to back-to-back defeats in the La Liga with a win at Almeria before the international break but Messi again failed to score and equal the league record of 251 goals netted by Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra.

He has not found the back of the net since Barca played Eibar over a month ago. The return of Luis Suarez following his biting ban has also caused Messi to be played on the right of attack rather than through the centre which he prefers.

"What we are looking for is equilibrium with the three forwards and depending on the space it determines where they play," Luis Enrique said.

"The idea is to have Leo involved as much as possible in the play so that he can do most damage."

Akpan to undergo surgery

Nigeria international, Hope Akpan, is expected to have surgery next week following a shoulder injury he sustained while playing in the 2015 Afcon qualification.

The 23-year-old midfielder was injured in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Congo and had to make way with a dislocated shoulder which ruled him out of the match against South Africa.

The Nigerian team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, had estimated that Akpan would be out for a couple of weeks but Reading FC manager, Nigel Adkins, revealed that the player will now be sidelined for an extra 10 weeks.

“We’ve lost Hope. He saw the consultant this morning and he is going to require surgery.

“The decision is they are going to operate on Monday (next week) and that’s going to put him out for three months.

“It’s a blow. I’ve viewed the incident from the game and it was so innocuous, just a brush of the shoulder,” said Reading FC manager, Nigel Adkins.

Akpan has made two appearances for Nigeria, and they were in the 2015 Afcon qualification against Sudan and Congo.

Giroud boost for Arsenal

France international Olivier Giroud faces a fight to get back into the Arsenal team after recovering from a broken leg, manager Arsene Wenger said on the eve of Saturday's mouth-watering Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Giroud, who has been out since breaking his leg against Everton on August 23, has made a quicker than expected return to fitness and the striker was praised by his boss when he spoke to reporters at his pre-match briefing on Friday.

"The surgery went well because he had no setbacks during his rehab," Wenger said.

Asked if Danny Wellbeck's form would make it difficult for Giroud to get his place back in the starting line-up, Wenger said: "There is always a fight because there are a lot of offensive options.

"But Danny Welbeck can play in different positions up front and there is, in some games, room for both of them, but of course, it is a fight."

Welbeck has impressed since joining from Manchester United on the last day of the summer transfer window with five goals in all matches and is set to face his old side for the first time at the Emirates on Saturday.

United manager Louis van Gaal allowed the England international to leave because he implied his scoring record did not match up to those of his other strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, but Wenger saw things differently.

"I always respected Danny Welbeck and always believed that he has a great future but for what he has achieved here in the last few months he has certainly gained more respect, and for the English national team as well.

"He is now one of the main players for England and he showed that again in Scotland.

"You have to understand that Louis van Gaal did not have Welbeck under his orders for a very long time and it is always difficult to know a player when you only see a player for three or four weeks.

"But Rooney and van Persie have exceptional goalscoring records and he had two top quality in front of him – what he needed was a chance."

Mikel Arteta is available after recovering from a hamstring injury, but Wenger said on Friday Theo Walcott is a doubt after picking up an injury while with England this week.

Hull out to make amends v Spurs

Hull City must set the record straight against an out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur after producing a woeful performance in their last Premier League outing against Burnley, manager Steve Bruce said on Friday.

Hull have not picked up a win in their last four Premier League matches and became the only team bottom-placed Burnley have beaten this season two weeks ago, a result that saw the Tigers slip to 15th in the table.

"It's always disappointing to have a result like we had (at Burnley)," Bruce told a news conference. "We've set ourselves certain standards over the last couple of years and against Burnley we have to admit we were woefully short.

"Whether you are a player, a coach or a manager, you need to respond to it so we have an opportunity in front of the nation to put that right," he said.

Hull host 12th-placed Tottenham on Sunday and are set to welcome back goalkeeper Allan McGregor, striker Nikica Jelavic and defender Michael Dawson after injury.

Spurs have struggled to live up to their early season promise and slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by Stoke City in their last outing, but Bruce is expecting a tough examination from Mauricio Pochettino's side.

"It will be difficult against a really, really good Spurs side but the one thing we have to do is produce a performance that you hope on the day will get you a result," Bruce said.

"The most vital thing is to leave that Burnley performance behind and the one thing you can do is put it right by your next performance.

"We will make sure that we are better than we were at Burnley because in all honesty, we can't be any worse."

Hull's squad contains a strong Spurs flavour with Dawson, Jake Livermore, and Tom Huddlestone all spending time in north London, but Bruce wants his players to focus on the team performance rather than any personal gain.

"We've got some ex-Tottenham players who I'm sure will want to do well against them but I'm more interested in the whole team improving from our last match," he said.

Next eight games crucial - Pellegrini

Manchester City must win their eight Premier League games before the end of the year if they are to challenge Chelsea for the Premier League title, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

Third-placed City are eight points adrift of Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Chelsea and having won only one of their last six matches in all competitions, Pellegrini wants his side to close the gap on the leaders if they are to retain the title.

"I think December and this week of November are decisive months for the Premier League," Pellegrini told a news conference ahead of the match against Swansea City on Saturday.

"We are going to play eight games in the Premier League, we are going to finish the first round at the end of December.

"We have 24 more points to try to win. We have to try to do it, I think that is the only way.

"I think maybe we will not to be top of the table because Chelsea is in a very good moment, but I think it is important to have a good first round. That is more than 41 or 42 points."

City captain Vincent Kompany has recovered from a calf injury and will be available against Swansea, but Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov and David Silva will all miss out.

City play German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Despite sitting bottom of Group E and with their Champions League progress hanging in the balance, Pellegrini said his focus was firmly set on Swansea.

"Swansea are a very good technical side and we are expecting a difficult afternoon," the Chilean said. "We are not thinking about Europe, we are thinking about the Premier League.

"We must try to discount the points we have behind the leaders. It is very important to try to win.

"After we finish the game against Swansea we are going to start thinking about Bayern Munich."

Complacency not a factor - Mou

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho expects to beat West Bromwich Albion on Saturday but does not believe his side will become complacent in their quest for the Premier League title following an unbeaten start to the season.

Having collected 29 points from 11 matches, table-topping Chelsea have a four-point advantage over Southampton and with champions Manchester City eight points back in third, few would predict the Premier League title going anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.

But speaking at a news conference on Friday ahead of the visit of 13th-placed West Brom, Mourinho said his side would not be resting on their laurels.

"I expect to win, but I expect a very, very difficult match," Mourinho said. "They have a good team, they can give us a very difficult match.

"We have a situation now, but our distance to our opponents tomorrow can increase or decrease. In this moment I don't think about being champion, I just think about beating West Brom."

"(There is) no complacency. If we lose matches, and I believe we will, it will not be because of complacency but because this is football."

Mourinho is "hopeful" midfielder Cesc Fabregas will be fit to face West Brom after struggling with a thigh injury and Andre Schuerrle and Ramires are back in contention after overcoming knocks.

Chelsea top-scorer Diego Costa, who was rested by Spain during the international break, has "totally recovered" from persistent hamstring and groin problems, and Mourinho is looking forward to the striker firing on all cylinders once again.

"In these past two weeks he had a little bit of a holiday," he said. "But the holiday he spent with a Chelsea physio, so even on that small period of holiday he was working many, many hours per day with our physio.

"He keeps going in the right direction and in this moment we feel that he is free of his old injuries."

However, the Chelsea boss did concede that Costa, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, may struggle to adapt to the hectic fixture schedule at the end of December.

"We are going to have a period that is new for him," Mourinho said.

"I always think that the Christmas period for players that do it for the first time in their careers is more difficult."

Mou backs Costa to play key role

Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa has recovered from his long-standing injury problems and is now ready to play a full part in Chelsea's testing run of fixtures to the turn of the year.

Chelsea manager Mourinho has maintained the Spain striker has required careful handling after suffering injuries while away on international duty this season.

But after criticising the way Costa has been used by his country, Mourinho is convinced the player has benefitted from being left out of Spain squad for the recent round of international matches.

Despite a lingering hamstring complaint, Costa has struck ten goals in his first nine Premier League games since a £32 million ($53.1 million) move from Atletico Madrid.

And with Chelsea facing a gruelling run of 12 matches in 41 days between Saturday's clash with West Bromwich Albion and the January 1 visit to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho is satisfied Costa is fully prepared for the demanding programme.

"He (Costa) had a little holiday, with a Chelsea physio, for two weeks so even then he was working many hours per day with our physio," Mourinho told a news conference at the club's Cobham training centre, south-west of London, on Friday.

"After that he came back, he keeps going in the right direction. We feel he's free of his old injury," the Portuguese manager added.

"But now we are going to have a period that is new for him," said Mourinho of the congested run of holiday period fixtures which, while a traditional feature of British football, has no equivalent elsewhere in Europe.

"I believe the Christmas period for players doing it for the first time in their careers is more difficult," Mourinho said.

"The English players, or those who have been here for many years, are more physically and mentally adapted and prepared to cope with the special incredible marathon of football we face.

"We spoke yesterday (Thursday) about it. But we go match after match. Diego has four yellow cards. Am I going to protect him? No way. He plays. When he's fit, he plays."

Chelsea, unbeaten in all competitions this season, face West Brom with Mourinho's men top of the Premier League and four points clear of surprise package Southampton.

However, Mourinho said: "There is no complacency, that's for sure. If we lose matches, and I believe we will, it won't be because of complacency. It will be because football is football.

"In our game against Maribor in the Champions League, we lost two points but it wasn't down to complacency. It was because of football.

"Their goalkeeper was the man-of-the-match and we missed so many chances, but my team played tremendously well in the second half.

"But we still lost two points. You lose points because it's football, because the opponents are better than you, but not because of complacency."

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has been linked with a January move away from the club after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois.

Paris Saint Germain, Arsenal and AC Milan have all been linked with the Czech international but Mourinho denied there had been an approach for the player.

"I promise you, I tell you the truth. On my desk, normally information arrives from the board. But I have zero. Zero proposals.

"At this moment, Petr Cech is our goalkeeper and has a contract for two more years. He's a fantastic professional and puts the team's interests first.

"Not once has Petr Cech knocked on my door to inform me of his desire to accept some proposal. This is my truth – nothing more I can say."

'Keane's Everton claims nonsense'

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane's claims that Everton routinely overstate the extent of injuries affecting their Irish international players are "nonsense", manager Roberto Martinez declared on Thursday.

Keane has suggested that players such as full-back Seamus Coleman and midfielder James McCarthy have been put under pressure by Everton to protect themselves on international duty.

The former Manchester United captain said that Everton gave the impression that their Irish players were "barely able to walk".

But Martinez told a press conference on Thursday: "It is completely nonsense. We have a good relationship with (Ireland manager) Martin O'Neill and we keep in touch frequently and share information.

"We are always very proud when our players represent their countries, and the record shows that. Every player at our club is desperately proud to represent their countries.

"A lot has been said; a lot is nonsense. The reality is the conversation between managers of the associations and ourselves has been good and will continue to be."

The Spaniard added: "All the fans in the Republic of Ireland and other nations should know these players will give their lives to represent their countries and that is something we are very proud of.

"Seamus, Darron (Gibson), James and Aiden (McGeady) have been extreme professionals and that is something we will carry on seeing."

McCarthy was sent home from the Ireland camp due to a hamstring problem during the international break, without playing a match.

'New stadium vital for QPR's future'

Queens Park Rangers, who have had more grounds than any other professional club in England, must move again if they are to thrive as a top-class outfit, owner Tony Fernandes said on Thursday.

QPR have played at 16 known venues and have made four changes since 1931. They finally settled back at Loftus Road in 1963 but with the ground currently capable of holding only 18,439 it has the lowest capacity in the Premier League.

The club have plans to move to a new 40,000-seater stadium three miles away and Fernandes said in a statement on the club's website (www.qpr.co.uk) the move was vital if they were to compete at the top level.

"We need to move if we are to sustain a top-flight club," he said. "Old Oak Common is the only realistic place for us to move. It is close to our fans and our roots, with great transport links.

"QPR have been in the area for over 100 years and have a loyal fan-base.

However, the huge car dealership Cargiant, the club's former sponsor, owns 47 acres of the land and has its own plans for redevelopment, while the largely under-developed area has also been earmarked for new rail links with a new station.

QPR say 88 percent of their fans support Old Oak as the location for the club's new ground.

"We are delighted that so many of our fans and members of the local community share our vision for the future of both QPR and Old Oak," Fernandes added.

"This is only the first stage of consultation and we will continue to work with the community as we develop our plans in more detail."

The club says the regeneration will deliver more than just a stadium, providing 24,000 homes, 55,000 jobs and community facilities.

After a nomadic existence in their first decades, QPR first played at Loftus Road from 1917-31 but after two short spells at the old demolished White City permanently moved back in 1963.