City keep pressure on Chelsea

Manchester City made it seven straight victories and kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea as Frank Lampard's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win at lowly Leicester City on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side were far from their clinical best at the King Power Stadium, but the winner from former Chelsea midfielder Lampard ensured the champions remain just three points behind his old club.

There was a significant blow for City however as captain Vincent Kompany, who had returned after a hamstring problem, was forced off with a recurrence of the same injury.

To make matters worse, City – who were already without Sergio Aguero due to a knee injury – lost another striker in the warm-up with Edin Dzeko pulling out to be replaced by youngster Jose Angel Pozo.

It was the bottom-of-the-table Leicester who had started the better with Esteban Cambiasso slicing off target after a driving run and Jamie Vardy having a shot deflected wide off Eliaquim Mangala.

An audacious 35-yard free kick from Cambiasso came close to catching out Joe Hart as Leicester dominated.

It took until the half-hour mark for City's first chance when Pozo shot straight at Ben Hamer from the edge of the area after David Silva's free-kick had only been half-cleared.

Moments later Hamer, in the side for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, made a decent stop to keep out a Yaya Toure drive from Silva's pullback.

Pellegrini's side were improving and went on to take the lead in the 40th minutes.

A patient build-up resulted in Samir Nasri crossing for Lampard to coolly flick home from six yards out.

It was the former England international's sixth goal in 13 games since moving to Eastlands on loan from New York City.

City nearly made it two early in the second half when Silva's flicked shot just missed the target from Nasri's cross.

Vardy then had a penalty appeal waved away as he went down under a challenge from Mangala.

Lampard was withdrawn on the hour to be replaced by James Milner, while Leicester manager Nigel Pearson took off Jeffrey Schlupp and sent on top scorer Leonardo Ulloa in a bid to spark his team into life.

Pearson was given a good reception by Leicester's supporters in the club's first home game since he had an angry confrontation with one of his own fans at the end of the 3-1 defeat by Liverpool earlier this month.

The Leicester boss faces a possible touchline ban after being charged by the Football Association over that incident, but the home fans were more concerned with trying to will their side to only their third league win of the season.

Kompany appeared to pull his hamstring again and was immediately replaced by Martin Demichelis late in the game.

Ulloa then saw a shot deflected wide as Leicester pushed for an equaliser before Mangala and Hart got in each other's way to concede a corner.

City were left to hold on somewhat with Anthony Knockaert's free-kick from 25 yards hitting the top of the wall.

For all their unstinting efforts, Leicester could not find the late equaliser with Ulloa blazing wide after Wes Morgan's header down.

Balotelli gree hin warrant

Liverpool strika, Mario Balotelli, don gree ansa de warrant wey FA for England give am, say hin bin cuss pipu one kin, ontop internet, na im amebo pipu yarn on Friday.

Balotelli bin vex pipu las week, wen hin put one piksure of one computer game, Super Mario, ontop internet.

Unda de piksure, Balotelli come rite say: "No dey cuss pipu anyhow. Resembu Mario. Hin be plumber from Italo, wey guymen for Japan make. Hin dey tok English, resembu Mexico pipu, sabi jump like black man, come like pepper like Jew."

De tin vex FA oga dem and dem say 'De cuss too heavy', de way dem bin rite am for Futbal rule E3(2), sake of say he cuss pipu wit dia colour, dia language, dia area, de way dem dey carri pray and dia God sef.

Balotelli don reach 24 years now, but hin tok say hin no go wan follow FA oga dem yarn, face to face, but hin don carri biro rite ontop paper, to beg dem, so dat dem no gi give am red card.

If anybodi carri mout cuss persin colour ontop fild, na red card for five match, strait, but dis Balotelli own no hapun for fild, so nobodi sabi de kin konk wey hin go colet.

Italo playa, Balotelli bin don tok sorry ontop internet las week, say: "Make una no vex for me. I bin wan tok say all man be de same, but e be like say I no tok am well."

Balotelli bin cancel de tin wey hin bin fes rite, but FA pipu tok say "even tho hin cancel de tin, e no mean say we no go konk am."

Since Liverpool carri 16 million pound buy Balotelli from AC Milan, wen dis season start, de bros neva fit show hin skill for there.

He neva fit score one goal for league, and dis new gbege go jus taya Liverpool pipu.

Lacazette fires Lyon to third straight win

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon moved within a point of second-place Paris Saint-Germain in the French league by defeating struggling Caen 3-0 on Friday for a third straight win.

Lacazette opened the scoring in the seventh minute by converting a penalty after Caen defender Jean-Jacques Pierre tripped playmaker Nabil Fekir. The Lyon striker then scored a league-leading 15th goal from a corner to double the lead in the 57th.

Lyon forward Yassine Benzia made it 3-0 in the 62nd by burying a first-time effort into the bottom corner.

On Saturday, it's: Nantes v Bordeaux; Bastia v Rennes; Lorient v Metz; Montpellier v Lens; and Reims v Evian.

On Sunday, leaders Marseille visit Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain face Guingamp, Nice host Saint-Etienne and Lille play Toulouse.

Neymar out of Getafe clash

Barcelona have left Brazilian star Neymar out of their squad for Saturday's meeting with Getafe in La Liga "as a precaution".

The Catalan club announced that "the Brazilian has a problem with his left ankle and will not travel to Madrid as a precaution," without giving any further details as to how long he may be absent.

The 22-year-old, who scored in Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain that allowed Barca to go through to the last 16 as winners of their group, withdrew from training on Friday.

Luis Enrique's side head to Getafe in second place in La Liga and lay two points behind Real Madrid before the leaders' game at Almeria on Friday.

Barcelona, who welcome back Daniel Alves after he missed the PSG game due to suspension, have won their last eight games in all competitions.

Real extend record winning run

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a late double as La Liga leaders Real Madrid thumped Almeria 4-1 to extend their Spanish record for consecutive victories in all competitions to 20 on Friday.

Ronaldo struck twice in the last 10 minutes to take his league tally to 25 after first-half goals from Isco and Gareth Bale had seen the visitors go in 2-1 ahead at halftime.

The Portugal winger had been left frustrated for most of the night but he burst into life late on when he knocked in a Karim Benzema cut back from close range before putting away an Isco pass from the centre of the penalty area to wrap up the victory.

Real lead the standings with 39 points from 15 games, five points more than Barcelona who visit Getafe on Saturday.

The European champions travel to Morocco next week for the Club World Cup with two more wins than the previous best which was Barca's 18 victories from October 2005 to January 2006.

Real last failed to win when they were beaten 2-1 by city rivals Atletico Madrid in a La Liga game in September.

"Almeria caused problems for us throughout the game but in the end our quality showed through and we deserved the win," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

"We found it difficult to keep possession as we lacked the necessary composure on the ball and Almeria worked hard.

"We are now in good form and there are a lot of positive signs ahead of the Club World Cup."

ISCO SHINES

Real have had to cope with injuries to Luka Modric, Sami Khedira and James Rodriguez which have allowed Isco to enjoy an extended run and he got his second La Liga goal of the season.

The midfielder put Real ahead with a superb curling effort from the edge of the area after 34 minutes before Almeria drew level with a sweetly struck long-range volley by Verza. Bale then nodded in a cross by Toni Kroos to restore Real's lead.

Real's Iker Casillas kept them in front with an excellent penalty save to deny Verza midway through the second half, after Marcelo had fouled Edgar Mendez, before Ronaldo's late double gave the visitors a more flattering scoreline.

Almeria, who sacked Francisco Rodriguez last Tuesday and named Juan Ignacio Martinez to replace him following the Real game, started at a high-tempo unlike the display against Eibar last Monday when a 5-2 defeat cost the coach his job.

But the home side were eventually outclassed by Real, with the defeat keeping them in the relegation zone on 10 points.

Atletico complete signing of Correa

Atletico Madrid on Saturday announced that they have completed the signing of young Argentine midfielder Angel Correa after his transfer was postponed in the summer because of a heart problem.

Correa, 19, underwent successful surgery in New York after the illness was detected during a medical with Atletico in May and has now secured his transfer from Copa Libertadores winners San Lorenzo.

Reigning Spanish champions Atletico, who are third in La Liga ahead of Sunday's home meeting with Villarreal, confirmed that Argentina under-20 international Correa has signed "for the remainder of this season and the following four campaigns."

Correa, who helped San Lorenzo win the Argentine title last year, is therefore tied to Atletico until 2019.

Barca held to goalless stalemate

Barcelona lost ground on Real Madrid when they were held to a 0-0 draw at rain-lashed Getafe on Saturday and slipped four points behind the La Liga leaders.

Real jetted off to the Club World Cup in Morocco after Friday's 4-1 win at Almeria extended their Spanish record winning streak to 20 matches and Barca struggled against some gritty Getafe defending at the Coliseum in the Madrid suburbs.

Barca forward Lionel Messi was unable to convert the few chances that came his way and add to his 13 La Liga goals this season although he came closest for the visitors when he curled a 52nd-minute free kick against the crossbar.

The Argentina captain has hit the frame of the goal eight times in Spain's top flight this term, twice as many times as the next most frequent, Real's Karim Benzema.

Barca goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had little to do apart from leaping superbly to his left to palm a shot from Getafe forward Angel Lafita around the post in the 33rd minute.

Real have 39 points from 15 matches, four ahead of Barca in second. Third-placed champions Atletico Madrid can draw level on 35 points with Barca with a win at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

Wolfsburg close to Zhang signing

Wolfsburg are set to sign China midfielder Zhang Xizhe from Beijing Guoan, the Bundesliga club said on Saturday.

"There are only a few details to clear up," the club's general manager Klaus Allofs said.

Zhang, 23, is expected in Wolfsburg Saturday with the club hoping to officially present him this week as a new player. "Although it's a big leap from China to the Bundesliga we believe he can make it," Allofs said.

Wolfsburg are currently second in the Bundesliga, seven points behind Bayern Munich. They play Paderborn at home on Sunday.

Hoffenheim's Suele tears knee ligament

Hoffenheim defender Niklas Suele could be out for the rest of the season after tearing a cruciate knee ligament in Friday evening's 3-2 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

The club confirmed on Saturday that the 19-year-old Germany Under-21 international has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Suele went down when chasing Haris Seferovic for the ball in the seventh minute of the game against visiting Frankfurt.

He was immediately taken to Heidelberg University Orthopaedic Hospital where the tear was confirmed.

"We're all devastated for Niklas," Hoffenheim club football director Alexander Rosen said.

"He is a great lad who has undergone an incredible development so far. We will support him in every way we can and help see him through his challenging phase in his career."

The victory has put Hoffenheim up to seventh place, a place and two points ahead of Frankfurt, ahead of the rest of the weekend programme.

Bayern closing in on Odegaard

Bayern Munich believe they have a "good chance" of signing 15-year-old Martin Odegaard after the Norwegian teenager trained with the German champions this week.

Odegaard, who will 16 on December 17, has been attracting some of Europe's top clubs.

Coach Pep Guardiola confirmed Saturday Odegaard had been training with the first team, while Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Saturday's Bild newspaper the club was interested in signing the player.

"He is an exceptional talent and a good guy, very advanced for his age. We are making efforts (to sign him) and I believe we have a good chance," Rummenigge was quoted as saying.

Odegaard has now made a second appearance at the Bayern training ground after training with the youth team squad last year.

However Bayern are likely to face strong competition for a player who has become Norway's youngest-ever international.

Odegaard trained the previous week with Premier League side Liverpool, while European champions Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal are among clubs also reported to be showing an interest.

Odegaard became the youngest player to play in the Norwegian league when he made his debut for Stromsgodset in April.

In August he made his international debut for Norway against the United Arab Emirates to become the youngest player capped by Norway at senior level.

In October against Bulgaria, he became the youngest player to play in a European Championship qualifier.

Bayern thrash Augsburg to go ten clear

Bayern Munich underlined their status as Bundesliga champions-in-waiting as Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Augsburg moved them 10 points clear.

With second-placed Wolfsburg playing Paderborn on Sunday, Bayern seized the chance to extend their lead and remain on course for a third straight title.

After a goalless first-half, Bayern burst into life after the interval as Arjen Robben netted twice while Medhi Benatia and Robert Lewandowski were also on target.

Despite the drubbing, Bayern's Bavarian neighbours Augsburg remain third in the table.

Centre-back Benatia headed his first Bayern goal on 58 minutes, then Robben slotted his ninth in all competitions just two minutes later when he hit the top left-hand corner.

Poland striker Lewandowski claimed their third when he fired home a final pass from captain Bastian Schweinsteiger on 68 minutes.

Robben added the fourth three minutes later as Augsburg's defence capitulated.

Bayern, who started with Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze on the bench, can further hammer home their superiority later this week when they host Freiburg on Tuesday before travelling to face Mainz on Friday in their last league match of 2014.

Despite qualifying for the Champions League's last 16, Borussia Dortmund dropped back into the relegation places after slumping to a 1-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin.

Dortmund's ninth defeat in 15 league games – the most in Germany's top flight – saw them drop to 16th from 14th having started December at the bottom.

To rub salt into the wounds, Julian Schieber scored the first-half winner against his old club.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp swapped attacking midfielder Heinrikh Mkhitaryan for Poland's Jakob Blaszczkowski with 35 minutes gone, but the move backfired.

Blaszczkowski lost possession in midfield, Norway's Per Skjelbred pounced on the loose ball and fed Berlin striker Schieber, who fired home on 40 minutes.

Only Hanover 96's 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen prevented Dortmund dropping to second from bottom.

Spanish striker Joselu scored twice for Hanover to claim four goals in his last three league games.

Having scraped into the Champions League's last 16 with a 1-0 win at Slovenia's Maribor on Wednesday, Schalke 04 slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Cologne.

Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah scored his fourth goal in five league games just after the break before midfielder Matthias Lehmann netted a penalty.

Teenage replacement Leroy Sane scored his first goal for Schalke by way of consolation on only the 18-year-old's fourth league appearance as Schalke dropped to sixth.

Hamburg were held to a goalless draw at Freiburg with both teams just above the bottom three.

On Sunday, fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen host Borussia Moenchengladbach with Lucien Favre's side just one place behind in the league table.

On Friday, Hoffenheim enoyed a 3-2 win at Eintracht Frankfurt to stay seventh and just outside the European places for next season.

Pellegrini wants Lampard to stay

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to extend Frank Lampard's loan spell with the Premier League champions.

Lampard, who was released by Chelsea at the end of last season, has made a positive impression after joining Pellegrini's side on a short-term loan from sister club New York City.

That arrangement is due to expire at the end of December with the plan for the 36-year-old then to report to New York for pre-season training ahead of the new club's first Major League Soccer campaign.

But Lampard's form has raised the possibility of the loan being extended and, with fellow midfielder Yaya Toure set to play at the African Cup of Nations from January, that would especially benefit City.

Pellegrini, from his point of view, wants Lampard to stay in Manchester but he is also aware of the bigger picture concerning City's bold project in the MLS and he also wants to respect the player's wishes.

"Before December finishes we will have a decision but, as I repeat, I think Frank is a very important player for us and I hope we will not have any problems for him to stay here," Pellegrini said on Friday.

"But I cannot say just from one side what will happen with him.

"He has a loan just until the end of December and there is another club involved. The MLS is involved also. There are a lot of parties with an arrangement. It's not just depending on one opinion.

"But I hope we can have a decision as soon as possible because it's important for us and the players.

I'm still best man for Liverpool - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he is the right man for the job amid mounting pressure after a poor start to the season and a visit to in-form arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

Rodgers's side are currently ninth in the Premier League with 21 points, 15 adrift of leaders Chelsea and have struggled to rediscover the form that fired them to second in the table last season.

They visit Old Trafford having won two of their previous six league games and after suffering an early Champions League group exit after a drab 1-1 home draw with FC Basel on Tuesday.

"I think the message from me is clear. I don't think there would be anyone better to do the job here," Rodgers told reporters.

"Seven months ago we nearly won the title unexpectedly, I had time to work with players and we took them beyond where the club has been in a long time.

"This has been a difficult start with new players, less coaching time, young players; we are virtually starting again.

"I don't think there is anybody better equipped to deal with that having been here for the last two and a half years and experienced what this club is about and seeing what we get from the players whenever we are at our best."

A trip to United will be an ominous prospect for indifferent Liverpool though as Louis van Gaal's team have won their previous five league games to propel them to third in the table.

United striker Robin van Persie has overcome his early season slump to score three in as many games, including both in the 2-1 win at high-flying Southampton on Monday.

"It was a hard start to this season. It's hard to maybe pick things up straight away after the World Cup," the 31-year-old Dutchman told MUTV.

"I don't think it's an age thing. Over the past couple of weeks I've been feeling very well physically. I feel good and I don't think it's a coincidence that the goals are flowing in much better now.

Dzeko injured in Man City warm-up

Manchester City's injury problems up front were exacerbated on Saturday when Edin Dzeko injured himself while warming up prior to their Premier League game at Leicester City.

The Bosnian striker had only been called into the starting XI to deputise for top scorer Sergio Aguero, who has been ruled out for up to six weeks after damaging ligaments in his knee.

With Montenegrin forward Stevan Jovetic rested for the game at Leicester due to a minor muscular problem, 18-year-old Spanish striker Jose Pozo was handed a first league start.

City, the defending champions, went into the weekend three points below leaders Chelsea in the table and bidding for a seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.

Chelsea and Man City march on

Chelsea and Manchester City tightened their stranglehold on the Premier League title race on Saturday, recording victories over struggling clubs to stretch further clear of their increasingly forlorn pursuers.

Normal service was resumed at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea maintained their three-point lead over City at the top with goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa sinking Hull City, who had Tom Huddlestone sent off, 2-0.

Champions City maintained their ever more convincing chase, sealing their fifth successive league win at bottom club Leicester City 1-0 courtesy of a 40th-minute goal from the evergreen Frank Lampard.

City's delight, though, was tempered by another injury setback with captain Vincent Kompany, back after being sidelined, limping off with hamstring trouble.

Fourth-placed West Ham's progress was checked by a 1-1 draw at Sunderland and Southampton lost 1-0 to an Ashley Barnes goal at Burnley.

That left the chasing pack, headed by third-placed Manchester United and West Ham, 11 points behind Chelsea and eight adrift of the champions.

It also put pressure on Louis Van Gaal's United before their match against Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsenal host Newcastle United in Saturday's late kickoff.

Diski player profile: Sabelo Tsambo

Name: Sabelo Tsambo
Age: 20
Hometown: Soweto, Orlando
Position: Left wing
Club: Platinum Stars

How long have you been at the club?

2 years. Please tell us about your experience of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge:

It’s been fun, I learnt a lot and made friends from other teams. It’s helped me to become better player.

Who’s your favourite player/player you aspire to be:

Zinedine Zidane – he’s simplified the game – made it seem effortless.

How did you get into football - before choosing football as a career, did you have other choices?

I started playing in the streets of Orlando – I trialled for Pirates but didn’t get a place and then got selected at Platinum Stars.

Which other career path will you consider should you not become a professional footballer?

Next year I’ll be studying at the University of Pretoria – a BA Humanities degree. I just want to play soccer and hopefully balance with school. I’d like to be a Sports Analyst.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Promoted to first team then playing for Chelsea in England.

Tell us something interesting about yourself:

I’m humble and I take good care of myself and my body. I respect the game a lot.

Family – has been supportive but mom wants me to go to school. My dad passed. I have three sisters and I’m the only boy and the youngest.

Highlight – I scored the goal of the season – (How do you know that?) Because no one else can beat that goal! The goal was in Kimberley against Free State Stars. I love being on TV, it helps me to perform better. And I look good on TV!

Football’s greatest excuses

Football is a beautiful game when you are winning and things are going your way. There are, however, times when you have to taste the bitterness of defeat, but for some managers and players it is simply too much to take in.

As Fifa.com discovers, there are excuses ranging from comical to the absurd when some of the sport’s most recognisable names struggled to come to terms with adversity.

Before Spain became the all-conquering force that swept all those who stood before them, they were known as a team who did not quite live up to their exquisite potential at major tournaments. This is why it came as a surprise when they defeated Ukraine 4-0 in their opening game at the 2006 Fifa World Cup Germany™. But it was not the fault of future Chelsea frontman Andriy Shevchenko in front of goal, or their leaky defence for the loss. It was in fact frogs. Yes, frogs! Defender Vladislav Vashchuk jumped at the chance to defend his team post-match.

"Because of the frogs' croaking we hardly got a wink of sleep," Vashchuk explained. "We all agreed that we would take some sticks and go and hunt them."

Upon Shevchenko’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, he was greeted by a man who has been the subject of more than a few headlines around Europe. But Jose Mourinho’s most infamous excuse came during his tenure at Real Madrid. After a Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona in 2011, ‘The Special One’ launched a tirade on his bitter rivals.

“What I'm about to say is not a criticism, I'm just stating a fact: there were no ball-boys in the second half, which is something typical of small teams when experiencing difficulties.” The Catalan side had won just a mere ten trophies in three seasons before the tie.

He used the same excuse at the weekend after Chelsea lost their unbeaten run at Newcastle United, but while there is no doubting that ball boys play an important role during a match, a game cannot be played without a referee. Therefore, it became a slight problem when referee Marco Rezende failed to appear for River Plate’s Copa Libertadores last-16 clash with America of Mexico in 1998.

The crowd were buoyant; the television cameras were ready to broadcast, but Rezende was more than one thousand miles away in Belo Horizonte, Brazil after claiming that “nobody informed me that I was appointed for that game.” Due to the misunderstanding the game was postponed and played a week later, with Santiago Solari scoring the only goal in his last game for River before moving to Italy.

Players that featured in his new surroundings of Italy's Serie A would become accustomed to the odd unusual outburst. Francesco Totti and Christian Panucci fell victim to the old adage ‘a bad workman always blames his tools’ after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Denmark at Uefa EURO 2004.

Totti opted for the more credible excuse of blaming his boots, claiming that they were “like having your feet on boiling sand.” Panucci, on the other hand, went one step further and blamed his socks, claiming that “the thread that these socks were made with is too rough.”

In fairness they are not the only individuals to blame an uninspiring performance on their apparel. Sir Alex Ferguson made his team remove the now infamous grey away shirts at halftime against Southampton in 1996. Manchester United found themselves 3-0 down and on a run of four games without a win in that kit, and Fergie decided enough was enough.

“Get that kit off, you’re getting changed," remembered Lee Sharpe. “Those were the first words he said at halftime... we certainly never played in it again.” It made little difference. The Saints still ran out 3-1 winners.

Manchester United’s most successful manager ever may have learned a thing or two from one of his predecessors, Tommy Docherty, whose Red Devils side were condemned to relegation from the English top flight in 1974. However, rather than admitting that the team were to blame for their poor performances, Docherty attributed the responsibility to the bus driver who had frequently turned up late throughout the season.

Also while playing for debutants Scotland against Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup Switzerland™, the fiery midfielder laid blame to wearing old-fashioned thick woollen jerseys for their defeat to the then reigning world champions.

"The Scottish FA assumed Switzerland was cold because it had mountains," explained Docherty. "You'd have thought we were going on an expedition to the Antarctic. The Uruguayans wore light V-necked shirts with short sleeves. No wonder we lost 7-0."

The clothes that Angelina Jolie wore in the 2001 film Tomb Raider will be more likened to the South Americans than the Scots. Brad Pitt’s future wife played the role of Lara Croft, who was a popular video game character that David James became very accustomed to during his stint at Liverpool.

The goalkeeper paid the price on match-days for an obsession with his Sony PlayStation® console and after a match against Newcastle United, where James was held responsible for three goals, the England goalkeeper revealed the cause of his lapses in concentration: "I was getting carried away playing Tomb Raider and Tekken II for hours on end.

Parma confirms sale but not buyer

Serie A bottom team Parma have been sold although the new owner will only be confirmed next week, the club said on Thursday.

"Parma FC announce that today an agreement was reached to sell the majority shares of controlling party Eventi Sportivi S.p.A, which will be handed over to the new buyers... on December 16," the club said in a statement.

On Sunday, club director Piero Leonardi said the club was on the verge of being sold to a Russian-Cypriot conglomerate.

Current president Tommaso Ghirardi took over at Parma in January 2007, only to see the 'Ducali' relegated to Serie B for the first time in 18 years the following season.

Parma returned to the top flight in 2008/09 and finished an impressive sixth last season under former Italy player and coach Roberto Donadoni, although they were barred from taking part in the Europe League because of overdue payments.

On Tuesday, they were deducted one point for breaking financial regulations. An Italian Football Federation (FIGC) tribunal also banned Ghirardi and Leonardi for two months, as well as fining them €5 000 each.

Parma have lost 12 out of 14 league games this season and have only five points after the deduction.

Parma's heyday was in the 1990s when they won the Uefa Cup twice, the European Cup Winners' Cup once and the Coppa Italia twice as well as finishing runners-up in Serie A.

Milan will be great again - Inzaghi

Filippo Inzaghi has promised that seven-time European champions AC Milanwill break away from their midtable mediocrity and become great again.

"We have alternated very good matches with others which have been less good, but I never claimed to have a magic wand," the AC Milan coach told reporters during an event organised by one of the club's sponsors on Thursday night.

"So many other teams are struggling, such as Napoli and Inter, and we need patience but I'm sure we will be great again soon.

"I hope this is Milan's moment."

Former Italy and Milan striker Inzaghi, who had no previous experience of coaching a senior team, took over before the start of the season hoping to improve on last season's modest eighth-place finish.

Milan have won five of their 14 Serie A games this season and are seventh with 21 points, five behind Genoa who are third in the Champions League playoff spot.

Inzaghi also praised Japanese attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda, who has scored six Serie A goals this season.

"He is doing some very good things," said Inzaghi. "He spoiled us with his six goals but he is also important when he doesn't score.

"He's one of those who are very useful to the team for the attitude and the great dedication."

Milan last won Serie A in 2011 under Massimiliano Allegri.

Augsburg bid to upstage Bayern

Modest Augsburg, enjoying their best ever start to a season, will hope history repeats itself on Saturday when they play host to the mighty Bayern Munich in a Bavarian derby.

Last season Augsburg ended Bayern's record 53-game unbeaten run when they beat Pep Guardiola's side 1-0 at the SGL Arena in April thanks to a Sascha Moelders strike.

That result may have only come after Bayern had wrapped up the title, but it gives Augsburg reason to believe they can once again spring a surprise against the dominant force not just in the region, but in the whole country.

Midfielder Tobias Werner acknowledged that it will be "a mammoth task" for his side, but added: "It's one we're looking forward to. We've already shown we can cause Bayern problems."

Bayern make the short 70-kilometre trip fresh from wrapping up their Champions League group-stage campaign with a routine 3-0 victory against CSKA Moscow in midweek.

The reigning champions have dropped just six points, and conceded only three goals, in an unbeaten start to the campaign and are seven points clear of VfL Wolfsburg at the top of the table.

However, Augsburg, who were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 2011, are enjoying a superb season in their own right under Markus Weinzierl.

The 39-year-old, who spent time on the books at Bayern as a player in the 1990s, has taken his team to third place, the highest the club has ever been in the Bundesliga, thanks to a club-record run of four consecutive wins.

"It'll be an interesting game. They've been very good in recent years and if my memory serves me correctly we didn't do too well there last season. It's difficult to play there," said Bayern's World Cup final hero Mario Goetze.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg, after a decisive Europa League trip to Lille on Thursday, will be looking for a ninth win in 10 Bundesliga games when they host Paderborn on Sunday.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, one of four German clubs through to the last 16 of the Champions League, entertain Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Leverkusen this week welcomed Stefan Reinartz, who has been out since October with a fractured eye socket, back to training, although he will not be ready for a return to the team yet.

However, the match will see Germany midfielder Christoph Kramer return to face his parent club just days after confirming he would rejoin Leverkusen next summer at the end of his two-year loan to Gladbach.

Borussia Dortmund, another of Germany's Champions League hopefuls, go to Hertha Berlin bidding to make it back-to-back Bundesliga wins for the first time since September.

Jurgen Klopp's men beat Hoffenheim 1-0 last time out, but they remain just a point clear of the relegation zone after an underwhelming start to the season.

However, Hertha's own form has been poor - the capital club have lost four of their last five matches.

Klopp confirmed that Australian goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak is set to continue in goal after being selected ahead of Roman Weidenfeller for his side's last two matches.

"Little details worked in Mitch's favour. He's done well so far and provided nothing untoward happens then he'll be in goal for our three matches this week," said Klopp.

Fixtures (kick-offs 1430 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Hoffenheim v Eintracht Frankfurt (1930 GMT)

Saturday

Schalke 04 v Cologne, Augsburg v Bayern Munich, Hertha Berlin v Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen v Hanover 96, Freiburg v Hamburg, Mainz v Stuttgart (1730 GMT)

Sunday

Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1430 GMT), VfL Wolfsburg v Paderborn (1630 GMT)

Luis Suarez is unconcerned at being overshadowed

Luis Suarez is unconcerned at being overshadowed by Lionel Messi's scoring feats at Barcelona but remains angry about being labelled a "racist" and a "cheat" in England.

The former Liverpool striker has made more an impact with his assists since returning from a biting ban at the end of October while Messi has become the top scorer in La Liga and Champions League history.

"I have always been a goal scorer but I also like to help set up goals," Suarez told the Catalan newspaper Sport.

"I came here to score goals and not provide passes. I came because I had scored a lot of goals in the my career and above all at Liverpool but fortunately I have more to my game than just that.

"We don't just play for Messi but for everyone. We have players that we know can make the difference like Messi, Neymar and (Andres) Iniesta. They are players that give you confidence when they have the ball at their feet."

Suarez said it was easy to play with Messi.

"I am having a great time here. Obviously I want to score more goals but while the team is doing well then there is no problem. It is fantastic to play alongside the best player in the world," the Uruguayan added.

"On his own and with his skill he has ended all the doubts over the team and him."

Suarez, however, is unhappy at the way he was treated in England and the eight-match ban he received at Liverpool for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

"For now I have to accept that I was accused of being a racist without any proof over what happened with Evra," added Suarez.

"Also of being a diver and throwing myself on the ground. It is lies.

Arsenal shift focus to Newcastle

Aaron Ramsey wants Arsenal to take momentum from Tuesday's European victory into this weekend's Barclays Premier League match with Newcastle United.

Having endured a difficult first half at Stoke City on Saturday, which saw Arsenal trail 3-0 at the break before losing 3-2, Arsenal bounced back in the Uefa Champions League against Galatasaray.

Ramsey's stunning long-range strike helped Arsenal round off their group campaign with a 4-1 win in Istanbul.

Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium off the back of a win but without Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal (ankle) due to suspension and injury respectively.

While Newcastle will also be full of confidence after ending Chelsea's unbeaten start to the campaign last weekend, Ramsey feels his teammates showed character in midweek that will stand them in good stead.

"It was obviously a disappointing first half [at Stoke], but we did well in the second half and almost got back into it," he said.

"It was important to bounce back from that defeat and we did that.

"Every player here wants to work hard for [Wenger], we proved that again on Tuesday night. He has been under some unfair criticism, but we are all out there, we are in it together.

"We wanted to get the result for us and for him."

Newcastle showcased their renewed vigour under Alan Pardew last weekend by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Jose Mourinho's league leaders Chelsea.

A haul of 19 points from a possible 24 sees them travel to the capital in good spirits, and 21-year-old goalkeeper Jak Alnwick will make his first senior start for the club after preserving Newcastle’s clean sheet in the second half against Chelsea.

Fellow goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliott, who Alnwick replaced, are both injury absentees along with Rolando Aarons and Davide Santon, while Steven Taylor and Moussa Sissoko miss out through suspension.

Pardew hailed the job done by opposite number Wenger, and expects a tough test in north London.

"Arsene Wenger has done an unbelievable job at Arsenal and in some ways their stadium should be named after him," he said on Thursday.

"Arsenal has not been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years. The games at St James' Park have been tight and we hope this one is too.

"There will be no Rolando Aarons or Davide Santon. We are pretty much where we were for Chelsea in terms of injuries."

Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Diaby, Flamini, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Rosicky, Alexis, Campbell, Giroud, Podolski, Sanogo, Welbeck.

Newcastle United (from): Alnwick, Dummett, Haidara, Janmaat, Streete, Williamson, Abeid, Anita, Bigirimana, Cabella, Colback, Tiote, Vuckic, Ameobi, Armstrong, Cisse, Ferreyra, Gouffran, Perez, Riviere.

Match Appointments

Referee: Lee Mason

Assistants: S Burt, A Halliday

Fourth Official: N Swarbrick

Match Facts

Olivier Giroud has netted four goals in four Barclays Premier League appearances against Newcastle United.

Newcastle have won just one of the last 14 league matches against Arsenal (W1 D5 L8) including losing the last five on the bounce.

Three of the four goals Giroud has scored against Newcastle have been headers. In fact he has scored with all three headers on target he has mustered against Alan Pardew’s side.

The Magpies are the only team yet to score in the opening 30 minutes of their BPL matches this season. Their earliest goal this season has come in the 37th minute.

Chelsea roll out big guns for Hull

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa will have benefited from his midweek exertions ahead of Saturday's visit of Hull City.

Costa played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday as Chelsea eased to a 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Champions League.

The Spain international has featured in four matches without scoring since claiming his 11th Barclays Premier League goal of the season against West Bromwich Albion on 22 November.

But Mourinho declared himself pleased with the 26-year-old's contribution in the clash with Sporting, as Costa seeks to return to peak fitness and form after persistent hamstring trouble this term.

"He wants to improve his condition," explained Mourinho. "The confidence is not high, the condition is not the best but he wants to use the game [against Sporting] to chase lots of runs and movements, always wanting the ball, always wanting to associate with the wingers and with [Cesc] Fabregas.

"[It was] very important for him. I saw him better than against Newcastle, better than against Sunderland. This game was important for him."

Chelsea will be determined to bounce back on Saturday after losing their unbeaten record to Newcastle United last weekend.

A Papiss Cisse brace at St James' Park ensured Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time in 24 matches, but they remain top of the league - three points clear of reigning champions Manchester City - and will be expected to get back on track against a Hull side that is winless in eight.

Steve Bruce's men dropped into the bottom three following a 0-0 draw with West Brom in their last outing and have three fewer points at this stage of the season than they had in 2009-10, when they were ultimately relegated from the BPL.

Bruce could hand a recall to captain Curtis Davies, who has been left on the bench for his side's last two matches, and Nikica Jelavic will be in contention for a starting place after illness restricted him to a late appearance as a substitute against West Brom.

Gaston Ramirez remains suspended for Hull, having been sent off against Tottenham Hotspur last month.

Mourinho had the luxury of resting John Terry, Eden Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic, Oscar and Willian on Wednesday, with Chelsea already confirmed as winners of their Champions League group, while teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek made his debut.

The Portuguese can call upon Nemanja Matic against Hull after the Serbia midfielder missed the loss to Newcastle through suspension, but Cesc Fabregas serves a one-match ban of his own for picking up five bookings this term.

Chelsea ran out 2-0 winners in each of their meetings with Hull last term and have never lost to the Yorkshire club in the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy, Schurrle, Solanke.

Hull City (from): Harper, Jakupovic, McGregor, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dawson, Maguire, McShane, Robertson, Rosenior, Ben Arfa, Brady, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Aluko, Hernandez, Jelavic, Sagbo.

Match Appointments

Referee: Chris Foy

Assistants: H Lennard, A Garratt

Fourth Official: P Tierney

Match Facts

Loic Remy and Didier Drogba have both scored three goals in three Barclays Premier League matches against Hull City.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 10 encounters with Hull City in all competitions (W8 D2), including all six in the Barclays Premier League (W4 D2 L0).

Mohamed Diame has scored four goals from just four shots on target in the league this season.

Allan McGregor, who saved a penalty from Frank Lampard in this fixture last season, has saved all three of the spot-kicks he has faced in the BPL. No goalkeeper has saved four consecutive penalties in the competition.