Inter v Fiorentina:Icardi eye European League

Mauro Icardi insists Inter must at least qualify for Europe next season ahead of this weekend's top-of-the-table clash with Fiorentina.

Inter lead the way in Serie A having maintained their perfect league record with a 1-0 victory over Verona on Wednesday.

Felipe Melo scored the only goal of the game as Roberto Mancini's side moved three points clear at the summit thanks to a fifth successive win.

Icardi admits even the Inter players themselves did not expect to make such a sensational start to the campaign, particularly with so many new close-season arrivals.

“We wanted to start strongly, but maybe didn't think this strongly,” the former Sampdoria striker told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We're only at the beginning, but I feel relaxed in first place. Third place is the minimum objective for a club that has made major investments.

"Inter can't have another season without Europe. With 10 new players, there has been a revolution that made us very strong.

"We have drawn a line over the past and worked to create a great group. In time you will realise. We can only get better."

Stevan Jovetic, one of those who joined during the most recent transfer window, has scored three goals already since his loan move from Manchester City.

The forward will go up against one of his old clubs at the weekend - he played over 100 games for Fiorentina before moving to the Premier League in 2013.

Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez is looking forward to pitting himself against a familiar face in Jovetic.

"It’s nice to meet a former team-mate like him. I always had a good relationship with him, and he's the complete striker," the Argentina international said.

"He's physically strong, and has a good understanding with Icardi. We'll have to defend as a team.”

However, Inter's early success has not been built on goals scored. Instead, they have relied on a watertight defence that has conceded only once in Serie A so far.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, have hardly been leaking goals themselves. Paolo Sousa's team were beaten 3-1 by Torino on the opening weekend of the season, but since then have won four league games on the bounce while only conceding twice.

They moved above Torino into second place courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Bologna in midweek, with Jakub Blaszczykowski and Nikola Kalinic getting the goals in the second half.

The only disappointment on the night for Fiorentina was a calf injury picked up by Manuel Pasqual, ruling their captain out for at least three weeks.

Don't concentrate on Eagles for now - Oliseh tells Iheanacho

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has told Iheanacho not to concentrate on Eagles for now.

According to his statement, the reason being that the player is not ripe enough for the eagles. saying "he will get his time to play for the Super Eagles."

The Manchester City starlet has scored just once in three appearances this season, though he is yet to make the starting line up for Manuel Pellegrini side

Despite starting from bench, Manuel Pellegrini believes the player is very important to the future of the team.

"Kelechi is a very young player, he just turned 18, but I believe in him - it's not easy for him to play because he has Kun (Sergio Aguero) and Bony in front of him and they are very good players, but I think the way he continues improving working with the squad the whole week he will continue demonstrating why he's an important player for this team," said the City boss.

Though, Oliseh admits his talent but insisted that he would not be rushed into the Eagles despite inviting Arsenal's Alex Iwobi for next month's international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon.

Don't concentrate on Eagles for now - Oliseh tells Iheanacho

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has told Iheanacho not to concentrate on Eagles for now.

According to his statement, the reason being that the player is not ripe enough for the eagles. saying "he will get his time to play for the Super Eagles."

The Manchester City starlet has scored just once in three appearances this season, though he is yet to make the starting line up for Manuel Pellegrini side

Despite starting from bench, Manuel Pellegrini believes the player is very important to the future of the team.

"Kelechi is a very young player, he just turned 18, but I believe in him - it's not easy for him to play because he has Kun (Sergio Aguero) and Bony in front of him and they are very good players, but I think the way he continues improving working with the squad the whole week he will continue demonstrating why he's an important player for this team," said the City boss.

Though, Oliseh admits his talent but insisted that he would not be rushed into the Eagles despite inviting Arsenal's Alex Iwobi for next month's international friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon.

Celta Vigo annihilated Barcelona with a 4-1 crushing

Barcelona on Wednesday were shocked by an emphatic display  by the home side Celta Vigo after a wonderful start to the 2015-2016 premier division season

The Spanish giant fell behind in the 26th minute after ex-Barcelona player Nolito notched has fifth goal of the season with a superb curling.

At the 30th minute, Nolito made the assist of the second goal by nodding the ball to Lago Aspas after Gerard Pique made an erroneous mistake.

Celta were relentless and combined again for the third goal on 56 minutes by Lago Aspas

Neymar pulled one back at the 80th minutes before a subtitute John Guidetti clipped in three minutes later as unbeaten Celta Wrapped another triumph over their former boss Luis Enrique.

"I'm not happy to lose 4-1. I'll evaluate and analyse it but it's a test to show how difficult it can be," the Barca boss told reporters.

"All that remains is to congratulate Celta. They played a very complete game, in terms of effectiveness and their football.

"We suffered a lot in the individual battles - the first goal for Nolito went in the top corner but the second was our mistake.

"This result will be useful to tell us that it costs a lot to win - I prefer it when a team wins like Celta did, playing well. They're one of the more attractive [teams].

"We already knew if we committed mistakes we were going to be made to pay for them."

Moses and Sakho ends Machester city unbeaten record

Victor Moses and Sakho have added salt to the injury of Manchester city after the loss to Juventus at the UEFA champions league first round group stage and then stunned by Westham

Six minutes wonderful low strike from Chelsea loanee put the Hammers on the lead before Sakho pen down the second goal of the game to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at 31st minute but Belgian play maker Kevin De Bruyne scored his first goal for Manchester city to pull one back at the stroke of half time

Manchester city still finds themselves on top but Manuel Pellegrini was in a terrible mood after having loss David Silva in the warm-up and seen his side conceeded two soft goals before half time.

In contrast, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was super-bubbly, very apt given the songs coming from the away end at full-time, along with “We're going to win the League”.

'It has been a difficult week,' grimaced a curt Pellegrini. 'I told the players that West Ham would be hard opponents but we conceded two easy goals – we must be more concentrated.'

Soccer bankers of today

Time	Match	Tip	odd	Result
14.30 17.00 19.00 16.00	Molde                        vs    ROSENBORG  AALESUND                vs   ODD GRNLAND mjondalen               vs   valerenga Southampton          vs  Man united	2   2   X2&2-3   X2&2-3	2.88 2.05 3.35 3.15	LOSS WON LOSS LOSS

                                           

                   Total odds  62.3
         

Moses and Sakho goals ends Man city unbeaten run

Victor Moses and Sakho have added salt to the injury of Manchester city after the loss to Juventus at the UEFA champions league first round group stage and then stunned by Westham

Six minutes wonderful low strike from Chelsea loanee put the Hammers on the lead before Sakho pen down the second goal of the game to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at 31st minute but Belgian play maker Kevin De Bruyne scored his first goal for Manchester city to pull one back at the stroke of half time

Manchester city still finds themselves on top but Manuel Pellegrini was in a terrible mood after having loss David Silva in the warm-up and seen his side conceeded two soft goals before half time.

In contrast, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was super-bubbly, very apt given the songs coming from the away end at full-time, along with “We're going to win the League”.

'It has been a difficult week,' grimaced a curt Pellegrini. 'I told the players that West Ham would be hard opponents but we conceded two easy goals – we must be more concentrated.'

Inter Milan anxiously await Miranda fitness for Milan derby

Inter will check on the fitness of defender Miranda ahead of the derby against rivals Milan at San Siro on Sunday.

The 31-year-old had to be replaced by Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos just 23 minutes into Brazil's 4-1 international friendly victory over United States on Tuesday and will undergo tests when he has returned to his club.

Miranda played the full 90 minutes as Inter won both of their opening two Serie A matches of the new campaign following a busy close-season in the transfer market.

His absence would come as a big blow as Roberto Mancini’s men prepare to face Milan, a team they have not beaten in any of their last four meetings. 

"Unfortunately I took a knock to the knee and I had to go off," Miranda told reporters after Brazil's win.

"I am told it is a problem with the medial collateral ligament. Now I will carry out tests at Inter to understand the extent of the injury.

"I don’t think it's anything serious, but I still don't know for sure. For now I will work with my club and I will certainly do everything to be ready for the upcoming games."

Opponents Milan have three points from their opening two fixtures of 2015-16.

Mourinho worried over under-achieving stars

Chelsea Manager unhappy with unacceptable form after defeat to Crystal palace.

Jose Mourinho has branded as unacceptable the form of the core of his title winning team this season and warned he will make changes if his stars are still not achieving the desired result

Jose Mourinho will demand his leading players, including Eden Hazard, improve after Chelsea's chastening start to the season.

The Barclays Premier League champions have four points from four games and sit eight points behind leaders Manchester City after Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace.

It was Mourinho's second loss in 100 home league games as Chelsea boss and he was frustrated by individual and collective performances.

"If you are the best in the Premier League, I think it should be a good responsibility to have a similar season as in the previous season," Mourinho said.

"I don't want to analyse individual performances. When you have six or seven performing and three or four who are not (at) an acceptable level, it is difficult for a team to be consistent in the performance."

Whether he turns to the transfer market in search of answers ahead of Tuesday's 6pm deadline remains to be seen.

Mourinho said: "If you ask me, will I accept this, cross my arms, sit in a nice chair and wait calmly for the performance level to be back? No.

"I have to work, I have to react, I have to analyse and if I feel the players are not in conditions to react and give more, I have to make changes. I have never had a problem with that."

Asked whether his team retained the appetite to defend their title, the Portuguese said: “If that is the point, it is very, very sad because, for me, I feel the opposite. When I win, I want to win again. 

My medal is at home, in a drawer, [because] I feel fantastic motivation for more. If you win it once and the next [year] you are not on fire, not ready at least to fight for more, that is sad.

Lionel Messi my favourite Champions League memory - Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott has explained why Lionel Messi features in his abiding Champions League memory

Walcott scored as the Gunners came back from a 2-0 down against the Catalian giants in 2010 to draw the first Leg of their quater final at the Emirates.

Messi brilliancy ensured Arsenal exited the competition.

However, Walcott has fond memories of that tie.

"That [home leg] was a great night and a great performance,” he told the Arsenal Magazine. 

“I also remember something which happened before the return leg in Spain.

“I was doing the press conference at the Nou Camp the night before the game and I saw Lionel Messi at the top of the stairs. I was chatting to him, then the boss came up to me afterwards and joked, 'Theo, why didn’t you push him down the stairs?!’

“That has never left me, I thought it was brilliant, really funny from the boss.

“I think he scored four goals the next day as well. It’s things like that that are great memories, because people don’t see that side of it.

“That home game against Barcelona was definitely something special though."

Lionel Messi wins goal of the season

The UEFA Best Player in Europe wasn't the only award that Lionel Messi got on Thursday.

Before the Champions League group stage draw and the ceremony that named the Argentine superstar as the best performer of last season, the Barcelona genius was also awarded "Champions League Goal of the Season" for his unforgettable score against Bayern Munich in the first leg of last season's semifinal.

Late in the second half, after Leo himself found the opening goal, Barça started to dominate the game, and after a nice exchange of passes, Ivan Rakitic played a beautiful through ball to Messi, who went into a one-on-one duel with center-back Jerome Boateng. The number 10 made a spectacular move that literally made the German defender fall to the ground, and to complete the masterpiece, he gracefully chipped the ball over Manuel Neuer to score his second of the game.

In case you have forgotten, or just want to see for the thousandth time like myself, here is the award-winning spectacle by the world's greatest footballer.

FRIDAY SOCCER PREDICTION

Time	Match	Tip	odd	Result
19.00 19.00 17.30 17.30	Paris                         vs    brest  Dijon                          vs   creteil heidenheim               vs   kaserlautern frieburg                   vs   sandhausen	2-3   2-3   2-3   2-3	2.20 2.15 2.10 2.15

                            Total odds  21.36

Rooney hat-trick fires Manchester United to champions league group stage

Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney ended a 10-game scoring drought by grabbing a hat trick in Manchester United 4-0 win at bruge that progressed Van Gaal's side into the champions league group stage on Wednesday.

Rooney's confidence grew after putting his side on top in the 20th minute with a lobbed finish over the diving goalkeeper. The Skipper added more goals in the 49th and 57th minutes as Bruges' defense was repeatedly opened up.

Rooney waste a great chance for his fourth goal before Ander Herrera wrapped up the win in the 63rd minute. Javier Hernandez missed a penalty in the 81st to make it almost 5-0 after being handed the chance by Rooney, United penalty taker.

"It was a big disappointment last year not to challenge in (the Champions League)," Rooney said. "It was vital we went through any way we could.

Rooney scoring form was the biggest concern for Manchester United as they approached the season although he insisted it was only a matter of time before he got back to his scoring form.

Manchester United won 7-1 on aggregate and returned to Europe's premier competition after a one-year absence.

WEDNESDAY SOCCER PREDICTION

Time	Match	Tip	odd	Result
19.45 17.00 19.45 19.45	CSKA MOSCOW         vs    SPORTING CP  BRAGA B                   vs   AVES  Apoel                        vs   fc astana BRUGGE                      vs   MANCHESTER UTD	1   X   x   2	2.20 3.25 3.30 1.91	WON LOSS WON WON

                            Total odds  45.06

Liverpool in shock as midfield star agrees surprise deal to join ex Man U boss

Asier Illarramendi will leave Real madrid to join former united boss David Moyes at Real Sociedad, according to reports.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with the Spanish Midfielder for a £15million deal.

The 25-year-old left his boyhood club for the Bernabeu in a deal worth around £23m in 2013. He has made 59 appearances but appears to be out of favour with new manager Rafa Benitez.

And Real Sociedad boss Moyes could be ready to set up emotional reunion, while doing this old club United a favour at the same time.

Moyes was a resounding flop at old trafford but might well have a dealth a blow to one of premier league side concluding a deal.

TUESDAY SOCCER PREDICTION

Time	Match	Tip	odd	Result
19.45 19.45 19.00 18.30	MACCABI TEL AVIV vs    BASEL  MALMO                       vs   CELTIC TOUR                            vs   SOCHAUX CHIPPAS                      vs   PRETORIA	2   X   X   X	2.20 3.70 3.23 3.20

                            Total odds  84.1

Manchester United set to lure Barcelona star with £240m bid

Manchester united are considering £240m package deal to lure Neymar away from Barcelona

According to The Sun who claims that united boss are ready to break the bank for the brazillian.

The report explained that United will pay Neymar £130m buoyant clause which will then rise to a staggering £165m tax add-ons, making the 23-year-old the most expensive player ever.

Then Red Devils are prepared to offer the barcelona star a five-year contract worth a whopping £75m

The reports are unconfirmed and it remains to be seen if united will consider offering that staggering amount.

Meanwhile, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has come out to state that Neymar is happy in Spain.

He said: 'Neymar feels great at Barcelona'

'We will have renewal talks later, we want him to stay for years and even retire here'.

FIFA is not corrupt - Sepp Blatter

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has refuted the claim following the allegation of Corruption in FIFA organisation.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the organisation is not corrupt and that he protected the sport's governing body by stepping down from his position.

Sepp Blatter has served as FIFA president since 1998, but his tenure has been marred by repeated allegations of corruption prior to the arrests of FIFA officialS.

The Swiss was re-elected president, but announced his intention to relinquish his mandate as president in June 2 less than a week after nine FIFA officials were indicted on charges on racketeering conspiracy and corruption.

Sepp Blatter,s replacement will be elected at an Extraordinary Congress in Febuary and the current incumbent was unambiguous in his response to suggestion that FIFA have been tarnished due to recent allegation.

"That's not true, this has been created. The institution is not corrupt – there is no corruption in football," he told BBC Sport.

"There is corruption with individuals, there is not a general organised corruption.

"It is with people, the institution FIFA is not corrupt. It's not the institution, that's why I can't understand why the world's media say FIFA is corrupt."

Blatter also explained his reason for stepping down, adding 'i did it because i wanted to protect FIFA'

"I can protect myself. I am strong enough.

"I know what I have done, what I have not done, I have my conscience and I know I'm an honest man. I am clean. I am not a worried man."

Benzema rubbishes talk on Arsenal transfer rumour

Arsenal suffer £50m knockout blow as French ace Karim Benzema rubbishes Emirates deal Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has rubbished any chance of signing for Arsenal this summer.

The French international has been linked with a staggering £50m Gunners move throughout the summer, fuelled by claims he was surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu.

However, Benzema took to Twitter to break Arsenal hearts by rubbishing the speculation, he wrote: "For all those clowns who want to make believe things at my fans. Here this is my home!"

Rafa Benitez, who took over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season, has set the Frenchman a target of 25 goals for the season, something he has not achieved since 2011-12 when he netted 31.

“For all those clowns who want to make believe things at my fans. Here this is my home!”

Karim Benzema

In a recent press conference, Benitez said: "I have said many times that I am convinced Benzema is a great forward.

"That's why I set him a target of 25 goals to motivate him and so he can express himself.

"So we have a lot of attacking options and that's why right now we are not looking for a striker."  

Nasarawa United ends Kano Pillar's 12 years home invisibility

Nigeria premier league side Kano Pillars ended their twelve years home invisibility by a stunning 2-1 defeat from Nasarawa United on Sunday. 

The defeat was Pillars' first in 202 matches at their Sani Abacha stadium, some 4,446 days since they lost by the same scoreline against Julius Berger FC on on 21th June, 2003.

Just to rub salt into the injury, both of Nasarawa's goals were scored by ex-Pillars players, Manir Ubale and Bature Yaro.

"If anything we should celebrate today for the record," Pillars tweeted despondently after the final whistle.

Sadly, in football as in life, all things must eventually pass -- even 12-year unbeaten records!