Riera kicked out of Udinese over tweet

Spanish midfield player Albert Riera was sacked by Udinese, without ever playing a match in Italy, over an abusive tweet, Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Saturday.

The Friuli club issued a terse statement earlier this week announcing "the mutual cancellation of the payer's contract".

Their move came after the 32-year-old former Liverpool player tweeted that Udinese were "the worst club" he had played for.

Former Spain international Riera, who has also turned out for Bordeaux in France and Turkish club Galatasaray, joined Udinese in March and was immediately loaned to English Championship club Watford, in which Udinese owner Umberto Pozzo has an interest.

Bayern turnover tops half a billion euros

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich achieved record turnover figures for 2013/14 on Friday, matching their success on the pitch by breaking through the €500 million barrier for the first time.

The richest club in Germany and one of the wealthiest in the world posted a turnover of €528.7 million including Allianz Arena Limited, their best result in 114 years, club bosses told the annual general meeting in Munich.

Allianz Arena Limited is the Bayern-owned operator of the club's home ground.

Turnover was up almost €100 million in 2013/14, from €432.8 million, while profit stood at just over €16 million after tax, up from €14 million.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose slightly to €98.7 million, up from €95.6 million in 2012/13 when Bayern won their first Champions League-Bundesliga- German Cup treble.

"Bayern Munich can present to its members results that have never existed in the history of this club," said deputy CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.

"There is no doubt Bayern are both on a sporting level and financially at a stage they have never been before."

The club have enjoyed great success in recent years, reaching the Champions League final three times since 2010 and winning their fifth European crown in 2013.

Bayern have benefited from a booming domestic championship that has also seen record revenues from international broadcast rights sales as well as the world's highest attendance per game at more than 42 000 spectators.

Club membership has also more than doubled in 10 years, from 104 000 in 2004 to more than 251 000 in 2013/14.

It has not all been good news for Bayern this year though, with former club president Uli Hoeness being handed a three and a half year jail sentence for tax evasion.

Stevens off to flying start as Stuttgart win

Coach Huub Stevens began his new reign at VfB Stuttgart with a 4-1 win at Freiburg on Friday to see his side move off the bottom of the Bundesliga.

Two goals from Martin Harnik and one apiece from Carlos Gruezo and Timo Werner gave Stuttgart only their third win in 13 league games, moving them to 12 points, level with Freiburg and SV Hamburg.

Stuttgart go above Borussia Dortmund, on 11 points ahead of Dortmund's visit on Sunday to Eintracht Frankfurt, and Werder Bremen, who are now last on 10 before a home game against Paderborn on Saturday.

Dutchman Stevens, who took over on Tuesday following the resignation of Armin Veh, made four changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Augsburg last weekend against a Freiburg side that had won two and drawn one of their last three league matches.

Stevens is in his second spell at Stuttgart after avoiding relegation when in charge on a short-term contract for the last 10 games of last season.

Stuttgart got off to the best of starts when Harnik headed home in the 31st minute after Moritz Leitner's cross was headed on by Antonio Ruediger.

Freiburg levelled three minutes before halftime when Vladimir Darida found the net with a 25-metre drive.

The visitors regained the lead seven minutes after the break when Carlos Gruezo followed up after Roman Buerki saved from Christian Gentner.

Timo Werner made it three when through on goal in the 68th minute, and Harnik grabbed his second in the 76th from a pass from Gotoku Sakai.

By then Freiburg were down to 10 men when defender Stefan Mitroviv was sent off in the 70th minute for bringing down Harnik on the edge of the area.

Elsewhere at the weekend, leaders Bayern Munich visit lowly Hertha Berlin, while Sunday's games sees second-placed Wolfsburg host third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Bayern eager to extend Pep's contract

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the Bundesliga leaders are eager to extend coach Pep Guardiola's contract after describing the Spaniard as the "best coach" for the Bavarian giants.

"He is the best coach that could have happened to Bayern Munich," Rummenigge told reporters at the opening of the club's new merchandise store in Berlin.

"He's a wonderful person with whom it is great fun to work with, I hope he stays with us for as long as possible."

In his first year in charge, Guardiola won last season's Bundesliga title with a record seven matches to spare, as Bayern went on to claim the league and cup double, and is under contract until 2016.

But Rummenigge says he will tread carefully with Guardiola, 43, who has won 18 titles as coach of either Barcelona or Bayern.

"I know him, he's not the sort of person who wants to extend his contract early or values a long-term deal," he said.

"I won't annoy him with it and I know when the right time will be to have that conversation.

"It's not something that will happen in the near future."

Bayern began the weekend seven points clear in the Bundesliga before Saturday's match at Hertha Berlin in the Olympic Stadium which will host the Champions League final on June 6, a week after the German Cup final is also held there.

They suffered their first defeat of the season at Manchester City in midweek, but are already through to the last-16 of the Champions League as group winners.

"Our primary objective is to defend the German league title, it's the most honest title to defend as you need luck for the others," said Rummenigge.

"It would be great to come back to Berlin twice at the end of the season, but I wouldn't be so presumptious to suggest that."

Bayern are in rude health having reported a record turnover of €528.7 million for last season, while overall profit after tax for last season stood at €16.5 million, up from €14 million twelve months earlier.

Bayern are officially the world's biggest club with just over a quarter of a million members, meaning they have overtaken Lisbon's Benfica, which has 235 000 members with Barcelona third in the rankings with 177 246 members.

"In Germany, we may be the market leaders in football, perhaps even in all sports," said Rummenigge.

"But I think there is still potential to expand in other countries."

"At the moment, the situation is very, very good at Bayern Munich and what is happening on the field helps."

Vela hat-trick earns Moyes his first win

David Moyes notched his maiden victory as coach of Real Sociedad as Carlos Vela scored a classy hat-trick in a morale-boosting 3-0 win at home to Elche in La Liga on Friday.

Moyes took over this month with the Basque side down in 15th place and Friday's triumph, following last weekend's 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna in the Scot's first game in charge, lifted them to 12th with 13 points from as many matches.

Vela opened the scoring at the Anoeta in San Sebastian with a third-minute header and made it 2-0 when he ran on to a Xabi Prieto pass and struck a clinical low shot into the corner in the 31st.

The Mexico striker completed his treble eight minutes into the second half with a smart finish that went in off a post.

Elche, second from bottom on 10 points, looked out of their depth and are likely to be fighting for their top-flight status this season.

Leaders Real Madrid can pull five points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who play at Valencia on Sunday, with a win at Malaga on Saturday.

Moyes critical of 'overzealous' referee

David Moyes admitted he was "very happy" after overseeing his maiden victory as Real Sociedad coach before criticising the Spanish referee for what the Scot suggested was excessive zeal.

Mexico forward Carlos Vela netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win for the Basque club against Elche on Friday which lifted them to 12th on 13 points from as many matches.

"I'm smiling because we've won and I'm very happy but I want more," Moyes, whose side were held to a 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna in his first game in charge last weekend, told a news conference.

"I thought there were some small signs of a little bit of improvement, which was good," added the former Manchester United and Everton manager.

"We had a special player and a special talent in Carlos Vela, who scored goals which made a big difference."

Friday's game at the Anoeta was refereed by Carlos Velasco Carballo, who came under fire at this year's World Cup in Brazil for his performance in the hosts' 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals.

"I thought his tolerance level was too low," Moyes said.

"I think this is a game of men and it is also a physical contact sport.

"Nobody wants to come and see soft free kicks. People want to see strong people, they want to see people stay on their feet, they want to see the referee allowing challenges to go.

"So I thought his tolerance level was very low. I thought the referee against Deportivo was very good but I thought tonight, with three bookings I think in 27 minutes, it was too easy to book players, too easy."

Sociedad's next outing is a King's Cup last 32, first leg encounter at third-tier (Segunda B) Real Oviedo on Thursday and they play at Villarreal in La Liga the following Sunday.

Iniesta available for Barca at Valencia

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has shaken off a calf strain and is available for Sunday's La Liga clash at Valencia but the club will be careful not to rush him back, coach Luis Enrique said on Saturday.

Iniesta, who has been out of action since sustaining the injury in the La Liga 'Clasico' at Real Madrid at the end of October, was "in good shape", Luis Enrique told a news conference.

However, he cautioned that it was important to be "careful" with the Spain playmaker, suggesting Iniesta is unlikely to be included in the starting line-up at Valencia's Mestalla stadium.

"He has clearly improved and he has been back in training with his teammates the past few days," Luis Enrique said.

"I always miss a player who is injured and if it is Iniesta much more so," added the former Barca and Spain midfielder.

With 12 matches played, second-placed Barca are two points behind leaders Real, who will set a club record of 16 consecutive victories in all competitions if they win at Malaga later on Saturday.

Champions Atletico Madrid, two points behind Barca in third and two ahead of fourth-placedValencia, host Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

Luis Enrique said the decision to operate on centre back Thomas Vermaelen to correct a lingering thigh injury was unlikely to prompt the club to buy a replacement for the Belgiuminternational in the January transfer window.

Vermaelen, who sustained the injury playing against Russia at the World Cup in June, has yet to make his competitive debut after joining from Arsenal and his signing has become something of an embarrassment for the Barca board.

He is expected to be out for four to five months.

"Injuries are normal in professional football because it is a physical contact sport and very hard,"Luis Enrique said.

"We believe the operation is the best solution so he can recover and help us.

"We have no doubt he will give us a lot. There is no intention of reinforcing that position.

Udoh wants Akwa Ibom stadium

Akwa United technical adviser, Patrick Udoh has said it will be appropriate for his side to play their home matches at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo in the upcoming season.

The newest ultramodern stadium in the land opened early in the month with an international friendly match between domestic Super Eagles and the Black Meteors of Ghana just hosted the last group match of the 2015 Africa Cup Nations involving Nigeria and South Africa.

Udoh said though no concrete decision has been taken to switch the side from the poorly maintained Uyo Township Stadium to the lush Akwa Ibom Stadium insisting that a positive action to relocate the side will greatly impact on their league fortune next season.

"There are talks in some quarters to relocate the side to the Akwa Ibom Stadium as their permanent home ground for next league season though nothing concrete has been agreed.

"The feelings of the people are that the new stadium with the nicest playing turf will greatly enhance the fortune of the side compared with their present abode at the Uyo Township Stadium.

"However, it appears the government body language and thinking suggest that they would rather limit the stadium usages to international matches.

"We believe the picture will be clearer as it concerns definite uses of the stadium before the start of the new season.

"We're quite hopeful the government will consider it needful to allow us relocate to the stadium as our home ground," said the former First Bank coach to supersport.com.

Udoh said it is quite early in the day to speak authoritatively on his players' stand as it concerns the upcoming season.

"The players are on break at the moment and most unlikely to return to camp before the Yuletide holiday.

"So it'll be difficult and presumptuous to speculate on the players who'll leave, stay or come in as new recruits.

"Right now we're not thinking in that direction at the moment but allow the players to enjoy their break to the fullest thereafter we can commence discussion not only on the players' status quo but on the general well-being of the team," said Udoh.

Akwa United finished the out gone 2013/14 Glo Premier League season on the 16th position on 51 points.

The Predictor's NPFL XI of the season

The 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) produced some of the best individual performances I have witnessed in the top flight in the country. The display of Mfon Udoh of Enyimba and Dolphins winger, Emem Eduok, will remain talking points for years to come.

But there were also superb returns by Bayelsa United striker, Peter Ebimobowei, and Kano Pillars capped up the season with a team effort to win their third league title on the bounce. I have racked the best names this season and settled for my team of the season though I consider Enyimba as team that produced more individual performances last term.

Goalkeeper

Femi Thomas (Enyimba): He started the season poorly but finished strongly. Thomas is one of the reasons Enyimba kept the chase on Kano Pillars at the top. The former Akwa United shot-stopper manned goal all through the second and shipped in 15 goals. For me, the like of Theophilus Afelokhai of Kano Pillars and Leke Ojo of Giwa FC come close. Afelokhai missed a handful of matches for Pillars.

Defenders

Markson Ojobo (Enyimba): I regard Ojobo as one of the underrated players in the premier division. He is a defender who can play across the back four. Despite being a centre-back, Ojobo adapted so well at right-back. Surely a lot of enthusiasts will point to may be Solomon Kwambe, Gombe United's Alhassan Yusuf, Matthew Etim of Rangers, Odinga Odinga or may be Hosea Ayuba, but Ojobo, for me proved to be ahead of the pack.

Jonathan Zikiye (Dolphins): This defender has continued to develop his game and had a very decent at Dolphins. There were a number of left-backs like Chima Akas (Sharks), Zoumane Doumbia (Heartland), Chris Madaki (Giwa FC) and Idris Aloma (El-Kanemi Warriors) among others. Zikiye stood out with his balancing act of defending and bombing forward.

Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors): When you talk of defensive leaders in the league last season, I rate Ogbonnaya as one of the best. No wonder, El-Kanemi head coach, Salisu Yusuf, built his defence around and he acquitted himself decently.

Ousmane Pape Sane (Enugu Rangers): The Senegalese centre-back shrugged problems he had with his coaches earlier in the season to become the stalwart in their backline. The former Sharks man played a key role in defence when Rangers went six-game unbeaten to ease relegation worries. They shipped in just two goals in those six matches.

Midfielders

Julius Ubido (Heartland): There were a number of decent holding midfielders last season. Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks), Razak Aliyu (Enyimba), Rasheed Olabiyi (Enyimba), Charles Henlong (Giwa FC), Tamen Medrano (Sunshine Stars) and Ikenna Hillary Paul (Sunshine Stars) are some of the long-list who put in eye-catching displays. But Ubido was beastly for Heartland with his box-to-box shift.

Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba): The petite midfielder is the man behind the scene of most of Enyimba's attacking moves. Sokari, for me, was the quiet man of the season. He looked comfortable in the middle of the pack and showed he could put in tackles to help defensively.

Christian Pyagbara (Sharks): It is not every season you score four goals in a match, but Pyagbara will cherish that moment of netting four against a team like Sunshine Stars. For an attacking midfielder, he chalked up 14 goals I would not ignore him in my team as the game is all about goals.

Forwards

Mfon Udoh (Enyimba): No disputing his inclusion in my team. Udoh turned himself to a nuisance for every team and their defences. The Enyimba man netted 23 goals to make himself a cult hero in Nigeria's top flight. But I'll play him in a free role up front as he thrives better that way.

Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa United): Ebimobowei scored 18 goals in 33 league games for his team, including two hat-tricks. Interestingly all of his goals came from open play and he scored 36 per cent of his team's total goals. Ebimobowei is my centre forward.

Emem Eduok (Dolphins): Eduok like his kinsman, Udoh, were full of running last season and it will be foolhardy to limit him. He turned in 20 goals including six in a game against relegated Nembe City.

The Predictor's XI

GK: Femi Thomas

DF: Markson Ojobo, Jonathan Zikiye, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Ousmane Pape Sane

MF: Julius Ubido, Kingsley Sokari, Rabiu Ali

FW: Mfon Udoh, Peter Ebimobowei, Emem Eduok

Anichebe wants Arsenal scalp

Nigerian striker, Victor Anichebe, says West Bromwich Albion’s players have put their defeat to Chelsea firmly behind them and are poised for the kill against Arsenal on Saturday.

The Baggies came off second best against unbeaten Barclays Premier League leaders, Chelsea, losing 2-0 despite having to play with only 10 men for over an hour at Stamford Bridge.

The plethora of quality on offer among Jose Mourinho’s outfit was only further highlighted in midweek by their 5-0 Champions League demolition of Schalke in Germany.

Anichebe has however seen the right response from his team-mates in training this week, stressing they are keen to get back on track when Arsenal visit The Hawthorns in Saturday’s early kick-off.

“I think we’ve reacted positively,” the striker told SkySports.

Looking back at the defeat to Chelsea, Anichebe regretted the eventual outcome but knows they lost to “an unbelievable team.”

“The Chelsea game was tough to take, they had a lot of opportunities in the game and we defended well.

“We had an early sending-off, the corner we conceded from was poor as well. But we’ve come into training this week, we’ve trained well and everyone’s trained hard.

“Chelsea are an unbelievable team, even when I was watching from the sidelines you could see how good they actually are.

“To lose to a team like that, you can’t really get down too much about it.

“We’re over that now. We’ve got important games coming and I think we’re ready for the hard period which is about to come.

“This Saturday we’re going to go out and try and get the victory. Like I said, everyone’s been training hard this week.

“We’re as ready as we can be this weekend,” he said.

Anichebe has scored once in seven league appearances for WBA this season.

Rodgers aims to get Liverpool back on track

Brendan Rodgers has challenged his Liverpool players to kick-start the club's spluttering campaign against Stoke on Saturday.

Reds boss Rodgers has been forced to answer questions about his job security for the first time in his reign after Liverpool plummeted to 12th in the Premier League following successive defeats by Newcastle, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

They also suffered a setback in the Champions League in midweek, conceding an 88th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at Ludogorets Razgrad, but can still secure a place in the knockout phase by beating Basle at home next month.

Rodgers is keeping calm while the flak flies and he remains hopeful Liverpool will get back on track if they can secure a morale-boosting victory at Anfield on Saturday.

"We are hoping our season has really begun the other night but it will only count if we take it into Saturday's game," Rodgers said.

"Everything has been hunky dory for 18 months but it is a different hand we have been dealt this year, a different deck of cards.

"I said to the players the other night what has gone before has gone.

"We got the result the other night: a good performance, we were competitive, the structure of the team was good and we will take it into a difficult game against Stoke."

Like Liverpool, Arsenal have fallen out of title contention over recent weeks, with the Gunners now 15 points behind leaders Chelsea following consecutive losses.

Arsenal's poor form has seen manager Arsene Wenger's 18-year stewardship called into question as rarely before, amid concerns that a climate of tolerated under-achievement has infiltrated the club.

However, Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League saw Arsenal reach the last 16 for the 15th consecutive season, boosting morale ahead of Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.

"We have to show character and that is what makes me really happy for the next few games, because we have to sharpen up in the Premier League as well," said Arsenal's German centre-back Per Mertesacker.

"Saturday is a good chance to show to everyone that we are still alive. We have to come back in the Premier League and that is the next target."

Victory over Dortmund came at a cost, with Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta joining a host of players on the sidelines after injuring his calf.

Jack Wilshere has been ruled out for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny should return from the hip injury he sustained in last Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United.

Second-place Southampton's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last Monday means that Chelsea's advantage at the summit has swelled to six points ahead of their visit to 14th-place Sunderland.

Jose Mourinho's side cruised into the Champions League last 16 with a breezy 5-0 win at Schalke on Tuesday and in-form midfielder Cesc Fabregas says their football is as enjoyable to create as it is to watch.

"We have a very young, talented team," said the former Barcelona player, who has already contributed 10 goals to the Chelsea cause this term.

"The mood is great and hopefully it will grow as the season goes on because you know that for the next two months it's going to be really, really tough – a lot of games."

Southampton's hold on second place faces a stiff test over the next fortnight, with successive games against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United on their schedule.

Third-place City arrive at St Mary's on Sunday, buoyed by a stunning 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday that breathed fresh life into their Champions League campaign.

United, meanwhile, have crept into fourth place, five points behind City, after their smash-and-grab victory at Arsenal last weekend.

Louis van Gaal's side host Hull City on Saturday, when victory would enable the 20-time champions to register a third consecutive league victory for the first time since December 2013.

FIXTURES(all times are CAT, SA, GMT+2)

Saturday (1700 GMT unless otherwise stated):

Burnley v Aston Villa, Liverpool v Stoke City, Manchester United v Hull City, Queens Park Rangers v Leicester City, Sunderland v Chelsea (1930 GMT), Swansea City v Crystal Palace, West Ham United v Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal (1445 GMT)

Sunday:

Southampton v Manchester City (1530 GMT), Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (1800 GMT)

Gerrard dropped on debut anniversary

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was dropped to the bench for Saturday's Premier League clash against Stoke City on the 16th anniversary of his Reds debut.

Gerrard had played the full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace and Ludogorets Razgrad already this week and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers decided to rest the veteran midfielder on a milestone day which saw him featured on the front of the matchday programme at Anfield.

The 34-year-old, who has been well below top form for much of the season, was replaced by Philippe Coutinho, with left-back Jose Enrique taking the place of Javier Manquillo from the side which drew 2-2 away to Ludogorets in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Rodgers had already risked irking Gerrard earlier this season when he left him on the bench for a glamour Champions League tie at Real Madrid.

"We have lots of game in a short period of days so we've just made a few changes to freshen up the team," Rodgers said.

"Steven Gerrard has been a fantastic player and still is, but at this stage of his career he can't play every game.

Wenger brushes off fans banner

Arsene Wenger looked a relieved manager after Arsenal won 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday although he refused to comment on a banner calling for him to leave the club.

The visitors dominated the Premier League game and broke through after 60 minutes when a Santi Cazorla cross found Danny Welbeck and he headed past keeper Ben Foster.

However, it was not all positive for Arsenal as fans unveiled a banner that read 'thanks for the memories but it's time to say goodbye'.

"I do not comment on that," Wenger told reporters after his side won in the league for the first time in nearly a month. "The job of every manager is to prepare for the future.

"We kept a clean sheet against Dortmund and a clean sheet today," the Frenchman added in reference to Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League victory in midweek.

"Unfortunately we didn't win against Manchester United [last Sunday] but the performance was there."

Arsenal rose to fourth in the table ahead of Saturday's later games, 12 points adrift of leaders Chelsea who kick-off at Sunderland at 1730 GMT.

West Brom manager Alan Irvine criticised the fans who called for Wenger to leave.

"That just seems ridiculous to me," the Scot said. "It's bizarre that I should be getting asked to defend Arsene Wenger after what he's done, he's had an incredible time at Arsenal.

"It doesn't please me to see any manager getting criticised because it's a tough job and he's been doing a tough job for a very long time and been doing it well."

Irvine is also under pressure given that West Brom's last home win came in September.

A chorus of 'you don't know what you're doing' rang around The Hawthorns when he substituted the lively Stephane Sessegnon for Georgios Samaras in the 76th minute.

"It's not nice to hear," Irvine said. "People have their own opinions but in actual fact it very nearly worked.

"Had it done perhaps people would have had a different judgement. We nearly got something out of the game in the end with that last 15 or 20 minutes – we hit the bar and had a number of shots blocked

Welbeck gives Arsenal win at West Brom

Danny Welbeck returned from injury to maintain Arsenal's recent revival as the England striker's second-half goal sealed a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's side had been under pressure after successive Premier League defeats condemned them to their worst start for 30 years, but a midweek victory over Borussia Dortmund, which booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, had lifted spirits at the north London club.

Welbeck missed that win due to hamstring and knee problems, but he was back at the Hawthorns to net his sixth goal for Arsenal, ending a run of six club matches without a goal for the former Manchester United forward and giving the Gunners only their fifth league win of the season.

Arsenal climbed to fourth in the table, although they could drop back out of the Champions League places depending on results later on Saturday.

Despite the win, at fulltime some Arsenal fans held up a banner calling for Wenger to quit.

Asked if he was affected by the protest, Wenger said: "I don't want to comment on that. I try to do my best for this club that I love.

"We are very united with the players and staff around the team, that's all you can do.

"It's easier to deal with the upwards than the downwards, but you cannot be a manger and have only one side.

"After playing on Wednesday, we finished the game looking for solidarity because the legs were a bit jaded but we kept it together.

"We had a bit of luck but as well we had focus to defend to the end."

After another week of injury woe left Wenger without Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Wojciech Szczesny, the Gunners' boss could have been forgiven for cursing his luck when Nacho Monreal limped off in the first half.

But Welbeck forced a good save from Ben Foster, and Olivier Giroud, making his first start since suffering a broken leg in August, almost punished a careless attempt to clear by Foster moments later.

Welbeck put Arsenal in front on the hour when he met Santi Cazorla's cross with a powerful close-range header that Foster could only help into the net.

Saido Berahino started for West Brom despite the revelations of his arrest for alleged drink-driving this week and the England Under-21 striker almost equalised when his header cannoned off the bar late on.

Other notable fixtures later on Saturday see leaders Chelsea travel to Sunderland, while Liverpool host Stoke and Manchester United take on Hull at Old Trafford.

Saturday Football

The first Premier League clash between West Brom and Arsenal ended in a 1-0 win for the Gunners. That will be followed by six matches at 5pm. The final one for the day features Sunderland against Chelsea at 7:30pm.

Then in SA, the focus will be on the only domestic match for the day – the Telkom Knockout final between Platinum Stars and SuperSport United at 3pm. We will also provide updates from several other leagues from around the world.

Bayern aim to learn from City lesson

Pep Guardiola wants Bayern Munich to learn from their mid-week Champions League defeat at Manchester City to help strengthen their iron grip on the Bundesliga at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

Bayern have a seven-point lead at the top of the table, but are licking the wounds from their first defeat in 22 games on Tuesday although they had already made the last 16 in Europe as group winners.

"It's good that it's happened and maybe there's a lesson in it for us," said Guardiola.

"If it happens in the Round of 16 or the quarterfinals, you're out, so we have to learn from this."

Defender Jerome Boateng has insisted Bayern will bounce back in his home city of Berlin.

Mid-table Hertha have shown little to cast doubt on that having only won four of their last 10 games.

Bayern have good memories of the Olympic Stadium as their 3-1 win there in March saw them claim last season's title with a record seven games to spare.

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to be named on the bench again having made brief appearances against Hoffenheim last weekend and City following a knee strain which had sidelined him since July's World Cup final.

There promises to be a battle royal in the pack chasing Bayern as second-placed Wolfsburg host third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach with both sides looking to bounce back from respective league defeats last weekend to Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Gladbach will be without suspended Swiss defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, who was sent off against Frankfurt.

On Friday, Dutch coach Huub Stevens takes charge of bottom side VfB Stuttgart at Freiburg having been named as Armin Veh's successor on Tuesday.

It will his second stint at the club having kept them up last season as caretaker coach.

Schalke, who are seventh, have to pick up the pieces of their 5-0 mid-week thrashing at home to Chelsea in the Champions League when they host mid-table Mainz after Roberto di Matteo suffered his first home defeat in his eighth game in charge.

Di Matteo is without Cameroon defender Joel Matip, who is sidelined until 2015 with the foot injury which kept him out of the Chelsea drubbing, while striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is just one yellow card away from suspension.

Last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund are at mid-table Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday looking to escape the bottom three having lost seven of their 12 opening league games.

They will be looking for a much needed confidence booster after their Champions League defeat at Arsenal.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is down to his second-choice centre-back pairing of Neven Subotic and Matthias Ginter with Mats Hummels and Sokratis Papastathopoulos both recovering from a sprained ankle and calf injury respectively.

Werder Bremen, who posted loses of nearly 10 million euros in mid-week, need a win at home to Paderborn as they look to climb up from second from bottom.

North German neighbours Hamburg are at sixth-placed Augsburg with captain Rafael van der Vaart having admitted he is prepared to take a pay-cut with his contact, worth 3.5 million euros, set to expire at the end of the season.

Fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen host neighbours Cologne in the Rhine derby having reached the Champions League last 16 despite losing 1-0 at home to Monaco on Wednesday.

German FA boss eyes Fifa job

German FA (DFB) chief Wolfgang Niersbach will run for membership at world soccer governing body Fifa's executive committee next year to replace outgoing European member Theo Zwanziger, he said on Friday.

Niersbach, who has been critical of both Fifa's handling of a report on corruption for the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup as well as picking Qatar for 2022, said Germany should keep its voice in the powerful decision-making body.

German football officials, including Niersbach and German league (DFL) chief Reinhard Rauball, have been vocal critics of Fifa's decision to award the 2022 tournament to the tiny Gulf state.

Desert temperatures make it far from ideal for the world's top soccer tournament while labour conditions of immigrant workers are also an issue, they said.

Niersbach only days ago proposed moving the 2022 tournament to the winter of 2023 so as not to clash with the winter Olympics and have cooler temperatures.

"I run for this post because I want to support European positions and I am convinced that German football should not lose its voice in the biggest decision making bodies", Niersbach said in a DFB statement.

Zwanziger, Niersbach's predecessor at the helm of the DFB, is stepping down next year with Uefa, European soccer's governing body, electing its representative for the Fifa executive committee in March.

Moyes wants 'excitement' in home debut

David Moyes wants "excitement, speed and commitment" from his players when the former Manchester United and Everton manager makes his home debut as Real Sociedad coach in Friday's La Liga game against Elche.

Moyes took charge of the team for the first time in an uninspiring 0-0 draw at promoted Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and the Elche match is a chance for struggling Sociedad to give their fans something to cheer about and begin the task of climbing up the table from 16th place.

"I'm looking forward to a big crowd and a good atmosphere and I hope the supporters get right behind the team," Moyes told a news conference previewing the clash at Sociedad's Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian.

"What I really want (from the team)? Exciting, fast, speed in their play, committed and showing how determined they are to play well for the club," added the Scot.

"Can I get all this in the first game at home? I don't know but that is what I want.

"I want a good team performance but more important I want three points."

Moyes reiterated that he will need time to make his mark on the Basque club, the 51-year-old's first coaching job since his failed stint at United ended in April.

"We can't make big changes just now but I do think the players are really, really focused, really interested in their work and wanting to get better," he said.

"It gives me a lot of hope and a lot of faith that the players are trying very hard to improve in every training session.

"I am still assessing the group. I have seen one game so it's going to take time.

Vermaelen to miss four to five months

Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen will have an operation to correct a thigh problem next week and is expected to be out for four to five months, the La Liga club said on Thursday.

The Belgium centre back, who sustained the injury playing against Russia at the World Cup in June, has yet to make his competitive debut after joining from Arsenal in August and his signing has become something of an embarrassment for the Barca board.

"Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery ... next Tuesday in Finland," Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es). "The estimated recovery time is four to five months."

Vermaelen, 29, has struggled with injury since joining Arsenal from Ajax Amsterdam in 2009.

He sustained an Achilles injury in 2010 followed by a series of other niggling problems and featured only 21 times for the London club last season.

He was meant to help bolster Barca's defence, which performed poorly last term when they failed to win major silverware for the first time in six years.

Buoyant Barca target Valencia scalp

A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona vanquished some early season doubts with back-to-back thrashings of Sevilla and Apoel Nicosia in the past week thanks to two hat-tricks from the Argentine as he became the all-time leading scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League.

Luis Enrique's men are expected to face a tougher test on Sunday, though, when they travel to a Valencia side that are unbeaten at home so far this season.

Messi's treble in Nicosia on Tuesday overshadowed Luis Suarez's first goal for the club in a comfortable 4-0 win as the Catalans remained on the tails of Paris Saint-Germain for top spot in Group F.

Enrique was delighted with his side's display in the Cypriot capital, claiming this was the Barca side he "wanted to see for the rest of the season."

The former Spanish international will also have the luxury of recalling Claudio Bravo, Sergio Busquets and Neymar to his starting line-up as they were rested in midweek in preparation for the trip to Mestalla.

Valencia's title aspirations have faltered in recent weeks as they were beaten 2-1 by local rivals Levante last weekend and held to a 0-0 draw by Athletic Bilbao last time out at home.

Alvaro Negredo was finally fit enough to make his full debut for the club at Levante. The former Manchester City striker looked decidedly rusty having not completed 90 minutes since March, but he believes Barca can be exposed on Sunday.

"Barcelona will be confident because they had a great win last week, but we are playing at home and need the three points," he told Valencia's website.

"We know how difficult a game it will be, even if Barcelona aren't at their best level. They won't make things easy for us, but at home we have played well, we feel comfortable and hopefully we can get the three points we want."

Real Madrid will have the chance to stretch their lead over Barca at the top of the table to five points when they go for a club record 16th consecutive win in all competitions at Malaga on Saturday.

Playmaker Isco has played a pivotal part in that run, filling a number of positions during the absence of Gareth Bale through injury and now in a central midfield role as Luka Modric is sidelined.

And the 22-year-old can expect a hero's welcome on his return to La Rosaleda after guiding Malaga to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in 2012/13 before sealing a 30 million euro move to the European champions.

"It is always very special to return home. Malaga gave me everything, but now I have to defend another shirt and I am happy here," he said.

"Hopefully we can win again and keep this good run going."

Champions Atletico Madrid could also move above Barcelona into second place for a few hours at least when they host struggling Deportivo la Coruna to the Vicente Calderon in Sunday's early game.

Meanwhile, David Moyes will get his first experience of leading Real Sociedad at home when Elche visit Anoeta on Friday night.

The former Manchester United boss got off to an underwhelming start with a 0-0 draw away to Deportivo last weekend and has his sights set on pulling away from the relegation zone as quickly as possible.

"What I really want is an exciting, fast, united team that show how determined they are to play well for the club," he said.

"Can we get that from the first game at home? I don't know, but that is the plan and that is what we want.

"I want the fans to see a good team performance, but most importantly I want three points.

Barca seek approval to sign defender

Barcelona will ask world football body Fifa if they can sign a replacement for Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to Catalan media reports on Friday.

Barca are banned by Fifa from signing any players in the next two transfer windows, due to having underage foreign players in their youth scheme.

However, papers Sport and Mundo Deportivo claimed that the club will ask Fifa if they can sign a defender to replace Vermaelen, who will shortly undergo hamstring surgery and be out of action for around four months.

The Catalan papers point out that the rules of the Spanish federation would permit Barca to sign - without having to wait for the January transfer window - a replacement player who is currently out of contract.

Barca will reportedly ask Fifa for permission to do so. Vermaelen, 29, was signed in summer by Barca from Arsenal for 15 million euros (18.7 million dollars). He has still not made his debut for the Catalans in an official competition, and has been voted the club's worst ever signing in several online polls.

On Friday Sport asked Barca's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta whether he was going to resign because of the Vermaelen signing. Zubizarreta has become an unpopular figure at Barca because of his allegedly ineffective transfer policy since taking the job in 2010.

Gala sack Prandelli after UCL exit

Galatasaray have dimsissed former Italy World Cup coach Cesare Prandelli after a string of poor results culminating in their exit from European competition, the Dogan news agency reported on Thursday.

Anderlecht beat Galatasaray 2-0 in their penultimate Champions League Group D game on Wednesday, guaranteeing that the Turkish club would finish fourth and miss out on a place in the Europa League.

Prandelli's dismissal, widely reported by Turkish media, could not immediately be confirmed.

He resigned as Italy manager after they failed to get past the group stage at this year's World Cup in Brazil.

Galatasaray announced in July that Prandelli was replacing fellow Italian Roberto Mancini, who left the club after less than a season in charge.

Allen backs Rodgers to lift Reds

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is adamant boss Brendan Rodgers can cope with the mounting criticism of his spluttering team.

Rodgers' side stopped a run of four successive defeats with a 2-2 draw at Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday.

On face value it was hardly a result to hint at a sudden uplift in fortunes, particularly as Rodgers' men failed to hold onto a lead and conceded a late equaliser from a set-piece, which has been one of their weaknesses this season.

But the point gained in Bulgaria means Liverpool know a victory at Anfield in their final group game next month will take them into the knock-out stages of the competition.

That would come as a welcome lift for Rodgers, although he knows his side need to take a significant haul of points from their next three Premier League games, before the visit of Basle on December 9, to climb up from their current lowly position of 12th.

Stoke, a point better off in 11th, are the visitors to Anfield on Saturday before Liverpool face Leicester and Sunderland, who have won only four league games between them.

Rodgers needs some positive results to take into the make-or-break Champions League tie to kill off increasing speculation about his own position.

But Allen insists the manager can cope with the pressure and says the players remain fully committed to helping him revive Liverpool's campaign.

"Brendan is handling it fine. He wouldn't be Liverpool manager if he couldn't handle it," Allen said.

"He has the backing of all the players and he knows that. It's up to us as players to turn it around.

"As a professional footballer you are always dealing with that pressure and expectation.

"It's not been an ideal start to the season but I have confidence in this squad that we've got the ability and the quality to turn it around."

Reds striker Mario Balotelli remains a fitness doubt after missing Liverpool's last two games with a groin injury, while Rodgers faces a couple of other selection issues.

Kolo Toure has done a solid job in his limited opportunities at centre-back and may get a start ahead of pre-season signing Dejan Lovren, who has struggled for form since joining from Southampton.

And Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva also took his chance against Ludogorets with a decent performance which might earn him a start against Stoke to again free captain Steven Gerrard to a more advanced role.

Meanwhile, Stoke's plans for the trip to Anfield have been thrown into chaos by a sickness bug sweeping through the camp.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and utility player Geoff Cameron both missed training on Thursday, while right back Phil Bardsley was sent home as a precaution.

In addition a number of academy players were struck down by the illness forcing the club to perform a deep clean of their training ground on Thursday.

"We're struggling to contain it somewhat," said manager Mark Hughes.

"The under-21s were hit by it earlier in the week. We tried to deal with it there and then.

"We closed their operation down to such an extent they haven't been in or around the building for the last three days, and they won't be in tomorrow either.

"Unfortunately today Asmir Begovic, Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley reported they were feeling unwell with sickness.

"Phil came in and was quite prepared to train, but under the circumstances we felt he was better served by returning home.

"Asmir was ill overnight and didn't report in, and Geoff was sick when he came into the building, so he went straight back.

"It could be the time of the year, something that's around. We tried to sanitise the building on Wednesday, we went right through it.