AZPILICUETA: SPECIAL GAMES

Cesar Azpilicueta had yet to establish himself in the side when Chelsea won away at Tottenham back in mid-October.

He had started one game by that stage - in the Capital One Cup - and it wasn't until early November he began his first league game.

Man City, Wigan eye cup glory

At the end of a week dominated by Alex Ferguson's shock retirement as Manchester United manager, Manchester City will seek to drag the spotlight back to the blue half of the city by beating Wigan Athletic in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Victory over Wigan will give City a third major title in three seasons and salve some of the pain inflicted by United's uncontested romp to this season's Premier League title and their own abject group-stage exit in the UEFA Champions League.

Bale collects another accolade

Tottenham forward Gareth Bale underlined his desire to bring UEFA Champions League football back to White Hart Lane after he picked up his FWA Footballer of the Year award on Thursday.

Bale collected his Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award at a star-studded ceremony in central London.

Less than two weeks ago, the Spurs star won the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year gongs after scoring a remarkable 30 times for club and country.

Fergie: Moyes prepare to say farewell

All eyes will be on Old Trafford and Goodison Park on Sunday as Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes say their emotional farewells at the end of one of the most dramatic weeks in the history of the Premier League.

At the start of this week it was hard to imagine that Manchester United's apparently meaningless final home game of the season against Swansea, and Everton's relatively mundane Goodison Park fixture against West Ham, would captivate millions across the globe rather than just the supporters of the respective clubs.

Barcelona hungry to wrap up title

Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara has admitted that his side are desperate to finally mathematically seal the La Liga title this weekend when they travel to face Atletico Madrid.

The Catalans have been on the brink of sealing their fourth championship in five years for a number of weeks, but will have matters in their own hands for the first time on Sunday and could even be crowned champions 24 hours earlier if Real Madrid slip-up away to Espanyol.

Villas-Boas targets Bale extension

Andre Villas-Boas has called on Gareth Bale to end speculation about his future by signing a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale last night collected his Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award after a remarkable season which has seen him score 30 times for club and country. The award came less than two weeks after the Professional Footballers Association rewarded him for his efforts by naming him Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

The more accolades the Welshman receives, the more rumours persist about a potential departure to Real Madrid, who have been monitoring the forward's progress this season. Bale is contracted until 2016, but the speculation will surely continue well in to the summer unless he pens a new deal with the club.

"It would be good for him (to sign a new contract)," the Tottenham manager said. "I think he deserves it for the season he's had. Obviously we could put to bed every single speculation that's coming out. It would be excellent and I think a reward for what he has achieved this season."
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Moyes: I wasn't planning to leave

 
Outgoing Everton manager David Moyes said he was disappointed to be leaving a "great club" but admitted there was no way he could turn down the opportunity to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

In an emotional press conference, his first since confirmation yesterday that he would be leaving Goodison Park after 11 years, it was clear how much Everton means to Moyes. However the lure of Old Trafford was something he simply could not resist.

"I'm disappointed to be leaving such a great club," he said. "The club has been such a great part of my life."

Barry looking forward to another final

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry is excited by the prospect of another FA Cup final appearance. The England international was a member of the City side which beat Stoke at Wembley in 2011 to end a 35-year wait for a trophy.

He went on to play an important role in City's Premier League title success last season and could be in the side again against Wigan at the national stadium this weekend.It is this pursuit of silverware which tempted him to leave Aston Villa for the Etihad Stadium four years ago.

 

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says it has been an honour to compete against Sir Alex Ferguson over the past three years.

Mancini's arrival at the Etihad Stadium in December 2009 has coincided with a resurgence in the rivalry between City and Ferguson's Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. City memorably beat United in the 2011 FA Cup semi-finals and then pipped them to the Premier League title in dramatic circumstances last year, a season in which they also soundly defeated their neighbours 6-1 at Old Trafford.

Lille beat Reims to move fourth

Salomon Kalou scored twice as Lille moved into a Europa League spot with an emphatic 3-0 win over Reims in Ligue 1 tonight.

Kalou struck in either half, sandwiching a strike by Dimitri Payet as the hosts moved into fourth spot ahead of Nice on goal difference, with Claude Puel's side playing Evian on Sunday. Defeat leaves Reims five points above Evian, who occupy the third relegation spot with the latter having three games remaining.

Zaragoza held by nine-man Levante

 

Levante held on to a goalless draw at home to despite being reduced to nine men in their La Liga match at Ciudad de Valencia tonight.

Midfielder Papakouli Diop was shown a straight red card in the 51st minute for a serious foul on Zaragoza striker Victor Rodriguez before Pedro Lopez was sent off for his second bookable offence in the second minute of injury time.

Hazard.. Genius of Chelsea

Some skills from Hazard. :)

Super Frankie..

Chelsea fans: isn’t this what a true leader looks like? Isn’t this the man you’d really like leading your team? Isn’t this a role model, someone to make you proud of your club?
On Sunday, Frank Lampard scored his 200th goal for Chelsea, bringing him to within two of the all-time record.

The number of goals isn’t particularly important, though it is an astonishing tally for a central midfielder.
As his detractors point out, he scores a lot of penalties - 39 in the Premier League alone for Chelsea (though that never seems important when talking about Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy or other great goalscorers).

What the tally does show is Lampard’s sheer consistency. This is his 10th consecutive season with 10 or more Premier League goals. Do you know how many other players have done that? None.
Just for the sake of comparison, do you know how many times Steven Gerrard has hit double figures in league goals? Three times. Paul Scholes? Twice.

Wenger: We must believe in beating Bayern

Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal to "make the impossible possible" at Bayern Munich with the Gunners needing to score at least three times in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last 16, second leg clash.

Having lost the first leg 3-1 at Emirates Stadium three weeks ago, Wenger's side face an uphill task to become only the second team to win at Bayern's Allianz Arena this season.

Wenger is urging his squad to be positive with Bayern weakened by the loss of France wing Franck Ribery with a sprained ankle, while both Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Jerome Boateng are suspended.

Liverpool top Spurs, Newcastle leave it late

Luis Suarez edged the battle of the player of the year contenders as he scored and earned the match-winning penalty to eclipse Gareth Bale and keep Liverpool's slim top-four hopes alive.

The Premier League's leading scorer drew first blood with his 29th of the season - and 22nd in the top flight - and, although his opposite number had a hand in both of Tottenham Hotspur's goals, the Uruguayan international had the last laugh by winning the late spot-kick from which Steven Gerrard scored.

Chelsea Charge Back, Rovers Hold Millwall

Wayne Rooney ended a tortuous week by scoring, but David de Gea proved to be Manchester United's hero for saving their FA Cup skins after Sir Alex Ferguson's team threw away a two-goal lead in their quarter-final with Chelsea.

Second-half goals from Eden Hazard and Ramires had pulled the visitors level after Javier Hernandez and Rooney struck early. It seemed certain Juan Mata would complete a memorable comeback when he stepped inside Jonny Evans in the final minute. But De Gea, so often the target of criticism, stuck out a leg to keep Mata out and United in the tournament.

Benitez Talks FA Cup, Ferguson Relationship

Chelsea hope to continue their rich recent FA Cup pedigree when they face Manchester United in Sunday's quarter-final at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils, the runaway Premier League leaders and 19 points clear of the fourth-placed Blues, last won the FA Cup in 2004. Since 2007, the Blues have dominated the competition with four wins in six years, while interim manager Rafa Benitez lifted the trophy with Liverpool in 2006.

Real Fightback Eliminates United

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal as Real Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 at Manchester United on Tuesday and reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

In a breathless game, Nani forced Sergio Ramos to put through his own goal in the 48th minute to give United a 2-1 aggregate lead in the last 16 tie, only for the Portugal winger to then be sent off for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa. Madrid immediately seized the initiative, equalising through substitute Luka Modric in the 66th minute and then earning victory through United old boy Ronaldo on his return to Old Trafford.

Suarez Hat-trick Seals Liverpool Win

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez steamed ahead in the race for the golden boot with a hat-trick as woeful Wigan Athletic were dispatched at the DW Stadium.

AC MILAN 2-0 Barcelona

Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura hit out at the state of the pitch after his side were left staring at an early UEFA Champions League exit following a shock 2-0 reverse to AC Milan on Wednesday.

Ghanaians Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari scored one apiece in a lively second half as the hosts, impressive defensively throughout, stunned the Catalans in their last 16, first leg, at the San Siro.

Dortmund beat Nurnberg to apply pressure

Borussia Dortmund moved up to second in the Bundesliga, and within nine points of league leaders Bayern Munich, thanks to a comfortable win over Nurnberg. Jakub Blaszczykowski scored twice in the first 21 minutes but Jurgen Klopp's men had to wait until the 88th minute before being assured of the points, when Robert Lewandowski made it three.

The result was rarely in doubt, though, as Dortmund dominated from start to finish, struggling only to find the back of the net more frequently. It could have been a different story had Nurnberg gone ahead with their first attack of the game in the 15th minute.

After weathering an early storm Markus Feulner set up Tomas Pekhart, whose effort was saved well by Weidenfeller, who did even better to prevent Feulner from tucking in the rebound. Their resistance was broken three minutes later, though, when Timo Gebhart was adjudge to have fouled Lukasz Piszczek inside the penalty area.

Casillas out for up to 12 weeks

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas could be sidelined for up to three months after successfully undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his left hand.

The Spain captain went under the knife during an hour-long operation in Madrid today after suffering the injury during Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final clash with Valencia. Doctor Miguel del Cerro, who performed the operation, said in AS: "The operation has gone very well. He will be out for between eight to 12 weeks."

Madrid medical chief Carlos Diez said in a statement on his club's website: "Everything has been phenomenal. Two screws were put in and the hand has been perfect. It has been a complete success from a surgical point of view."

Casillas will now miss the Copa del Rey semi-final double-header against Barcelona, the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester United and a host of La Liga matches.

Antonio Adan, who has been controversially picked by coach Jose Mourinho ahead of Casillas in a handful of recent matches, is the frontrunner to replace the world and European champion although Madrid are reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper to cover Casillas' loss.

Hernandez Double Sees United Through

Manchester United sauntered past Fulham 4-1 to book a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. After his latest penalty miss, Rooney passed over spot kick duties to Ryan Giggs who took United's third-minute penalty. And, 20 years and three days after his first FA Cup goal, Giggs scored his 12th.

Rooney did not come alive until after the restart but once he had brutally fired home his tenth goal of the season, he quickly set up strike partner Javier Hernandez for the Mexican's 13th. Hernandez bagged another before Aaron Hughes' consolation, ensuring Robin van Persie could remain on the bench throughout.

The Red Devil's penalty woes reached a head ten days ago, when Rooney's effort in the replay win over West Ham went sailing over the bar. It was their fifth spot-kick miss of the season, Rooney's second, and his 10th overall as a Red Devil.

Macheda Excited to Stuttgart Challenge

 

Federico Macheda is looking forward to a new challenge in the Bundesliga after the striker agreed to join Stuttgart on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.

Macheda has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford after scoring a famous debut goal against Aston Villa that helped secure the Premier League title for the Red Devils in 2009.

Loan spells at Sampdoria and Queens Park Rangers have both proved disappointing in the past for the Italian youth international. Now he is looking to kick-start his career in Germany after passing a medical.

Michu Commits Future In Swans

 
Top scorer Michu has given Swansea a major boost by signing a new four-year contract at the Liberty Stadium. The 26-year-old forward has taken the Premier League by storm since joining from Rayo Vallecano for just £2m in the summer, scoring 13 top-flight goals so far this term.
His exploits had seen the Spaniard linked with a big-money move away from the Swans, but he has penned a deal to keep him in south Wales until 2016. He told the official club website: "It was an easy decision for me. I am living a dream here at Swansea."