Its Real Madrid’s BBC against Barcelona’s MSN as FIFA releases 23 man shortlist.

 Arsenal, Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Manchester City, Premier league, Real Madrid  1 Response »
Oct 202015
 

bbc vs msnReal Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo who make up the clubs attacking trio known as “the BBC” together with Barcelona’s fearsome MSN which consist of Lionel Messi, Lius Suarez and Neymar Santos Jr would battle other players in world football for the FIFA Ballon D’Or. The 23 man shortlist which was announced by FIFA is dominated by Barcelona players and that of course is because of the team’s success last term. Exceptional players like Alexis Sanchez who has been a sensation since his move to arsenal also made the 23 man shortlist. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard also made the cut along side Manchester City stars; Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.

Current holder Cristiano Ronaldo recently became Real Madrid’s all time highest goal scorer eclipsing club legend Raul Gonzalez. Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a treble last season and Alexis Sanchez was instrumental in winning a trophy each for his club Arsenal and Chile in the Copa America. the full 23 man shortlist is listed below;

Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona), Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern Munich).

 

Manchester City surrender top spot after being battered at white hart lane

 Champions league, Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier league, Sunderland, West Ham  1 Response »
Sep 272015
 

With five games into the Premier League, Manchester City were the only team in the English top flight to have secured a perfect start to the season given that they had won all their matches and they did so without conceding a single goal. But all that gloss was dimmed after their 2-1 defeat against West Ham last weekend. The loss was followed by a 4-1 thrashing of Sunderland in the league cup which suggested that they were back to winning ways only to be pegged down in London by the same score line against Tottenham. City’s early season form has dropped and has seen them lose three matches in their last four games allowing their city rivals Manchester United to claim top spot in the Table.

Manchester City drew first blood after Kevin De Bruyne who appeared to be in an offside position gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half with beautiful strike. But that offside call was just the first of many to come as three of Totteham’s goals were also scored from an offside position. Manuel Pellegrini gave a good press conference after his team’s loss, he praised his opponents for a wonderful display and didn’t seem to care about the poor officiating that saw his side concede three goals from offside positions. Manchester city must shake off the effects of this loss and get back to winning ways as they travel to Germany to face Borrusia Monchengladbach on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Manchester City facing injury woes

 Manchester City, Premier league, Tottenham, West Ham  No Responses »
Sep 262015
 

Manchester City has a total of seven players sidelined through injury as they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur later today. The long queue of injured players for the club includes play maker David Silva, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Bony who are expected to return in the first week of October. While Gael Clichy and Mangala, would be returning later that month. Summer signing Fabian Delph is yet to make an appearance for the team this season due to a hamstring injury. Manchester City appears to be the only Premier League club that can have this much star players on the sidelines and still have so much to offer and that is because of the depth of their squad. Manchester City has a lot of options in different roles but their match against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup required that the club need do with the available squad. City went on to win the match 4-1 with Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling all on the score sheet.

City’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful that Samir Nasir, Pablo Zabeleta and his team captain Vincent Kompany would be available for selection today against Sunderland. With Aguero who missed most of the match against Juventus due to injury back to fitness, the manager is hoping the team could move on from their last week’s defeat to West Ham and win in London. Summer signings Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are also available, with the later impressing against West Ham. Though they lost that match, his performance shows that he doesn’t need a whole season to adapt to the Premier League he left a season ago and that’s one reason why City spent so much on him.

Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling not yet up to par

 Champions league, Juventus, Manchester City, Premier league  1 Response »
Sep 162015
 

Nights like Tuesday night were the reason for Raheem Sterling’s switch from Liverpool to Manchester city during the last transfer window. Sterling joined city amid the controversial circumstances with his proposed move but he has impressed his new coach with his performances as he helped his side win all five of their opening fixtures in the premier league this season. But he has come under five after missing two clear cut chances that would have won the game for them in their 2-1 defeat to last year’s Champions League finalist Juventus. He was eventually replaced later in the game by fellow summer signing Kevin de Bruyne.

On a night when city so desperately wanted to win as was seen by their attacking play, Raheem Sterling failed to deliver. He had two clear chances to dash the hopes of Juventus with his first coming just two minutes into the game after being played through by Fernandinho. But his low effort was saved brilliantly by veteran Italian goal keeper, Buffon. City later took the lead in the 57th minute through an own goal by Chiellini when Vincent Kompany’s header was deflected off the defender. Although the Juventus center-back was furious that the goal was allowed to stand because he felt he was fouled by Kompany. Raheem sterling had a chance to all but bury the game just three minutes later and again Buffon did well top deny him the goal. That would prove to be his last chance of the night as was replaced few minutes later. Juventus got back in the game through a wonderful goal by Mandzukic in the 70th minute and took the lead when Alvaro Morata’s left footed shot was too strong for Joe Hart to stop.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pelligrini speaking at the post match conference, refused to blame the defeat on Sterling stating that the though they controlled the game, they should have buried their chances. Manchester City still has 5 more games to play and they would be hoping to grab the points they need to qualify from those games.