Heinze's Ferguson Regret

Gabriel Heinze had admitted his fall out with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the biggest regrets of his career as he prepares to renew acquaintances with his former boss in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Tim Vickery in South America

Of the field of 32 teams in South America's Copa Libertadores, only two have not yet been in action in the group phase - and the pair are among the most famous names in the competition's history.

Independiente of Argentina have a record seven titles to their name. Uruguay's Penarol are five times champions and were winners of the first version back in 1960. Neither club have lifted the trophy since 1987 but they have won nearly a quarter of all the Libertadores titles between them.

And they meet on Thursday.

England: Monday's FA Cup Report + Quarterfinal Draw

West Ham 5 - 1 Burnley
Jamie Jackson at Upton Park

Quarterfinals of England's FA Cup to be played on March. 12-13
(home teams listed first):
Birmingham vs. Bolton
Manchester City/Aston Villa vs. Everton/Reading
Manchester United vs. Leyton Orient/Arsenal
Stoke vs. West Ham

Not Paolo Bandini in Italy

The former Chelsea manager jumped before he was pushed after Roma's second cataclysmic capitulation in a week.

Where next for nomadic nearly man Claudio Ranieri?

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

The 49-year-old Yorkshireman's stock in Wolfsburg has never been higher than a fortnight after his dismissal.

Steve McClaren proves his management credentials in absentia.

Phil Ball in Spain

There's a saying in Spanish football lore that goes, Entrenador nuevo, victoria segura (new coach, win guaranteed). Last week with Marcelino back at Santander, things changed for the better (and continued thus, with a 1-0 win away at Getafe), and this weekend saw Jose Luis Mendilibar take over the reins at Osasuna and then preside over a 4-0 home victory against Espanyol.

Racism drives Cisse out of Greece

The situation reached a nadir during the derby game between Pana and Olympiakos on Saturday, as Cisse and three team-mates were attacked by Olympiakos supporters who entered the field of play following the 2-1 defeat for his side.

Gabriel Obertan and Bebe facing the same fate as Manchester United's class of 2005

If history is a reliable guide to the mindset of Sir Alex Ferguson, do not be surprised if the abject performances of Manchester United’s fringe players against non-league Crawley Town leads to a swift and ruthless purge at Old Trafford.

The likes of Gabriel Obertan, Bebe and Darron Gibson probably woke this morning with the temptation to pull themselves back under the duvet in a desperate attempt to banish the memory of Saturday’s embarrassingly narrow 1-0 FA Cup fifth round victory against the Sussex minnows.

Q & A with Jonathan Bornstein

Jonathan Bornstein has embarked on a new chapter in his career, becoming one of the few U.S. National Team players to play professionally in Mexico following time in Major League Soccer. After five seasons at Chivas USA and two starts in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the defender chose a change of football, culture and lifestyle when he joined Tigres in January. ussoccer.com spoke with Bornstein about his experiences in the land of the MNT’s biggest rival.

England: FA Cup Review & Reports + Premier League Report

Leyton Orient earned a replay with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, Everton beat Chelsea on penalties and Manchester United edged Crawley Town.

Review




Chelsea 1 - 1 Everton (3-4)
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Kevin Palmer at Stamford Bridge

Manchester United 1 - 0 Crawley Town
Phil McNulty at Old Trafford

Manchester City 5 - 0 Notts County
Daniel Taylor at Eastlands
Richard jolly at Eastlands

Leyton Orient 1 - 1 Arsenal
Paul Doyle at Brisbane Road
Chris Bevan at Brisbane Road
Orient players win Vegas trip

EPL: West Brom 1 - 1 Wolves
Kevin McCarra at the Hawthorns

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Review

Two goals in the last 10 minutes settled an entertaining Bundesliga encounter between Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways thanks to a 2-0 win in a one-sided game against St Pauli. Lucas Barrios put Dortmund ahead five minutes before the break and an own goal from Ralph Gunesch early in the second half wrapped up the points for Jurgen Klopp's men. Bayern Munich moved up to second thanks to a 3-1 win over Mainz at the Bruchweg Stadion.

Review

Spain: La Liga Weekend Review

Lionel Messi was the hero for Barcelona on his 250th competitive game for the club as he scored the winner to beat Athletic Bilbao.

Goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia was Deportivo La Coruna's hero as he scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser to earn his side a point at second-bottom Almeria.

With his side trailing to Pablo Piatti's brilliant 48th-minute opener, Aranzubia ventured forward for a corner deep into injury-time and headed in a goal that helped Depor avoid what looked set to be a fourth defeat at the hands of Almeria this season.

Review

Italy: Serie A Weekend Review

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri has offered his resignation in the wake of Sunday's stunning loss to Genoa. The Giallorossi led 3-0 after 51 minutes, but contrived to lose 4-3 - their third straight Serie A defeat. Alexandre Pato came off the bench to score AC Milan's winner against Chievo as the Serie A leaders brushed aside their Champions League defeat in midweek with a 2-1 victory at the Marc' Antonio Bentegodi. Fiorentina and Sampdoria battled out a goalless draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi which did little to boost either side's cause.

Review

Birmingham give trial to US midfielder Alejandro Bedoya

The 23-year-old has spent the last two years with Swedish club Orebro SK.

Claudio Ranieri resigns as coach of Roma; Montella named as replacement

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has resigned as coach of Serie A side Roma after they crashed to a fourth-successive defeat.



Montella to take over

Sid Lowe: Ronaldo was simply a phenomenon

Ronaldo has left the building. No, not that Ronaldo, the other one. Fat Ronaldo. By the end, he didn't even have exclusive use of his own name anymore; some other guy had come and taken it from him. A prefix had become necessary, a defining trait -- and a pretty sad one at that. Fat Ronaldo. Does it really have to be this way? Can't we agree on Brazilian Ronaldo instead? Or Original Ronaldo? The Original and the Best?

The Fifth Official

Few of us like Monday but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.

Good Day!

Ryan Giggs signs a new one-year deal that will have him in Manchester United's first team for a 21st season, Dominic Raynor is Off The Ball, best matches and midfielders of the FA Cup, FA Cup action sees Manchester United host Crawley Town, Leyton Orient host Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea clash in their fourth-round replay, previews for action in Italy and Spain, if EPL clubs were U.S. sports franchises, Jose Mourinho has not lost a league match at home for nine years, Champions League final ticket prices soar, Liverpool draw in the Europa League and much more!!

Key TV in the USA

All Times Eastern Standard

Saturday:
English FA Cup
Chelsea vs. Everton -- 7:30am -- FSC
Manchester United vs. Crawley Town -- 12:15pm -- FSC

Italian Serie A
Inter Milan vs. Cagliari -- 2:45pm -- FSC

Sunday:
English Premier League
West Brom vs. Wolves -- 7:00am -- FSPlus

English FA Cup
Manchester City vs. Notts County -- 9:00am -- FSPlus
Leyton Orient vs. Arsenal -- 11:30am -- FSC

Spanish La Liga
Barcelona vs. Atletico Bilbao -- 3pm -- GolTV

Ryan Giggs Signs New Manchester United Contract

It means the 37-year-old will take his time at Old Trafford into a remarkable 21st year, having made his club debut as a substitute on 2 March, 1991.








The cream of the crop from 1991...

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

AC Milan will attempt to overcome the disappointment of their Champions League defeat to Tottenham when they face Chievo. Inter Milan go into Saturday's match against Cagliari with one eye on next week's Champions League game against Bayern Munich. Leonardo's men leapfrogged Lazio into third after their 2-1 triumph at Fiorentina in midweek, cutting the gap on city rivals AC Milan to five points. Fiorentina and Sampdoria will battle it out at the Artemio Franchi stadium with both teams looking to make amends for their respective midweek defeats.

Preview

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview & Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

Improving Levante have revenge on their minds as they go to Real Madrid this weekend while Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao.

Preview

Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

England: FA Cup and Premier League Previews & Predictions

Non-league Crawley's trip to Manchester United has captured the imagination, with a battle between two Red Devils at Old Trafford set to take centre stage. Elsewhere on Saturday, League One leaders Brighton will be looking to book their place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Premier League outfit Stoke. Chelsea host Everton in a fourth-round replay while Leyton Orient host fellow-Londoners Arsenal.

Preview I
Preview II

FA CUP:
Chelsea vs. Everton: Preview
Manchester United vs. Crawley Town: Preview
Leyton Orient vs. Arsenal: Preview

EPL:
West Brom vs. Wolves: Preview

Lawro's Predictions

England: The FA Cup's Greatest Matches

We at ESPNsoccernet will be taking you through the season with a series of FA Cup features detailing the highlights of the competition's long and proud history. Here is a selection of the games that have entered FA Cup lore as some of the very best that weren't played in a final.



Alan Pardew nets the winner for Palace vs. Liverpool in 1990...

England: The FA Cup's Greatest Midfielders

ESPNsoccernet will be taking you through the season with a series of FA Cup features detailing the highlights of the competition's long and proud history. Here, we look at those midfielders who have left their mark on the competition.






Sir Trevor David Brooking

If EPL Clubs Were U.S. Sports Franchises ...

Spurs last won a league title in 1961. The Jets last won a Super Bowl in 1969. And for years since those titles, both have competed with the best some years and floundered in others. Lately, they’re both making a push to the top, with the Jets reaching two straight AFC championship games and Spurs qualifying for the Champions League with a top four finish last year. Led by dynamic -– if not somewhat misunderstood –- young talents in Gareth Bale and Mark Sanchez, and two blustery coaches that please every interviewer that points a microphone at them (Harry Redknapp and Rex Ryan), the teams relish the spotlight. Trouble is, they can’t seem to stand the heat of it all at the end.

The Rest

Jose Mourinho's unbeaten home league run reaches nine years

This Saturday marks another special anniversary for Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho. It is nine years since one of the four teams he has managed since 2002 - Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real - lost a league match at home.

The last time the self-styled "Special One" experienced a league defeat with a side that he coached was on 23 February, 2002, when Porto were beaten 3-2 by Beira Mar.

FA Cup magic is in the numbers for Leyton Orient

All 9,311 tickets for Sunday have gone, the first time Orient have hosted a sell-out fixture since they beat Hull in the second leg of a League Two semi-final in 2001. This is their biggest Cup game since they hosted Tottenham in the third round earlier that same season, and lost to a last-minute goal.

Brisbane Road

UEFA Europa League: Thursday Review

Liverpool drew 0-0 with Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Europa League tie, while Rangers drew 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon.

Review

Fans furious at ticket prices for Champions League final at Wembley

Some 11,000 tickets will go on sale to the general public costing £300, £225 and £150 plus a £26 "administration fee". An allocation of 50,000 tickets which will be reserved for fans of the two finalists will include "category four" tickets at £80 each, according to Uefa but the Football Supporters Federation condemned the prices as too high.

Dominic Raynor: Off The Ball

Off The Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories.

This week, Domenech calls his France team a bunch of "spoilt brats", Newcastle Jets offer Michael Owen a cash-plus-horse deal, a posse of Corinthians fans force Ronaldo to retire and Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott loses more than just the derby to Wayne Rooney.

Good Day!

Arsenal get two late goals to defeat Barcelona, Roma shocked by Shakhtar, St. Pauli win Hamburg Derby, Inter Milan beat Fiorentina, Grant Wahl on Clint Dempsey's success with Fulham, top overhead kicks of all time, Gattuso charged for "gross unsporting conduct", Charlie Davies loaned to D.C. for one year, Norman Hubbard looks at David Moyes and Everton and much more!!

Grant Wahl: U.S. star Dempsey on the verge of history

Dempsey, 27, says he's playing the best soccer of his career these days, and he has 11 games left to surpass McBride's goal mark for Yanks in a Premier League season. It seems like only a matter of time before Dempsey passes Roy Wegerle for all-time goals by an American in England. Dempsey has 34; Wegerle had 53.

Crash victim Davies makes loan return to U.S.

United States striker Charlie Davies, who missed out on the World Cup after a horrific car crash, has signed for D.C. United on a one-year loan, the Major League Soccer club said on Wednesday.

Gattuso Charged by UEFA

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is set for a Uefa disciplinary hearing on a charge of 'gross unsporting conduct' following his clash with Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan.

Italy: Wednesday's Serie A Reports + Table

Fiorentina
1 - 2
Inter Milan
Report

Genoa 0 - 1 Sampdoria
Report

P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Milan	25	15	7	3	25	52
Napoli	25	15	4	6	18	49
Inter	25	14	5	6	17	47
Lazio	25	13	6	6	10	45
Udinese	25	13	4	8	12	43
Juventus	25	11	8	6	11	41
Palermo	25	12	4	9	9	40
AS Roma	24	11	6	7	3	39
Cagliari	25	10	5	10	5	35
Fiorentina	25	8	8	9	0	32
Genoa	25	8	8	9	-2	32
Chievo	25	7	10	8	0	31
Sampdoria	25	7	9	9	-4	30
Bologna	24	8	8	8	-7	29
Parma	25	6	8	11	-11	26
Catania	25	6	8	11	-11	26
Lecce	25	6	6	13	-20	24
Brescia	25	6	4	15	-13	22
Cesena	25	5	6	14	-17	21
Bari	25	3	6	16	-25	15

Hamburg 0 - 1 St. Pauli: Asamoah Takes Derby Honours

Gerald Asamoah grabbed the only goal of the game as St Pauli moved clear of the Bundesliga relegation battle while denting Hamburg's European hopes at Imtech Arena.

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Reports & Fallout

Arsenal 2 - 1 Barcelona
John Brewin at Emirates Stadium
Kevin McCarra at Emirates Stadium
Phil McNulty at Emirates Stadium
Paul Hayward at Emirates Stadium

Sid Lowe:
Five Things We Learned

Richard Williams:
Barcelona left dazed

Player Ratings
Spanish press reaction


Roma
2 - 3
Shakhtar Donestk
Report I
Report II
Riise apologizes for howler

Everton Focus: Seeds of Doubt at Goodison

The final chorus was familiar. Soaked and suffering as the Everton supporters at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday were, they nevertheless hailed David Moyes. The chants of the manager's name are as much of a soundtrack to life at Goodison Park as the Z-Cars anthem. They have been a constant in a reign that has lasted almost nine years, giving the Merseysiders a continuity rivaled only by Arsenal and Manchester United.

Head over Heels

Sir Alex Ferguson has said Wayne Rooney's stunning winner in the Manchester derby was the finest goal he had ever seen at Old Trafford. We take a look at how it stands up to some of the great overhead kicks of the past.

Good Day!

Loads today as Tottenham win in Milan and Gattuso loses the plot (and how did Flamini stay on the pitch?!), Raul scores in Valencia as Schalke claim away draw, Newcastle defeat Birmingham to go ninth in the EPL, midweek action in Germany is the Hamburg Derby, in Italy Fiorentina host Inter and it's the Genoa Derby, Roberto Gotta in Italy, Tim Vickery in South America, Champions League action is Barcelona at Arsenal and Shakhtar at Roma and much more!!

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Previews

Arsenal vs. Barcelona
Preview I
Preview II

Lee Dixon:
How Arsenal can win

Alan Smith:
How Arsenal can win

Paul Hayward:
Pep the Extra-special One

Key Battles
Tactical Preview

Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Preview I
Preview II

Europe: Wednesday's Serie A and Bundesliga Previews

Italy:
Fiorentina vs. Inter Milan
Sampdoria vs. Genoa

Germany
Hamburg vs. St. Pauli

England: Tuesday's Premier League Report + Table

Birmingham City
0 - 2
Newcastle
Richard Rae at St. Andrew's

CLUB	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Man Utd	26	16	9	1	32	57
Arsenal	26	16	5	5	29	53
Man City	27	14	7	6	19	49
Tottenham	26	13	8	5	9	47
Chelsea	26	13	6	7	24	45
Liverpool	27	11	6	10	3	39
Sunderland	27	9	10	8	0	37
Bolton	27	9	9	9	1	36
Newcastle	27	9	8	10	4	35
Stoke	26	10	3	13	-2	33
Blackburn	27	9	5	13	-8	32
Fulham	27	6	13	8	0	31
Everton	26	6	12	8	-3	30
Birmingham	26	6	12	8	-10	30
Aston Villa	27	7	9	11	-15	30
Blackpool	26	8	5	13	-11	29
West Brom	26	7	6	13	-17	27
Wigan	27	5	12	10	-18	27
West Ham	27	5	10	12	-18	25
Wolves	26	7	3	16	-19	24

UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Reports & Fallout

AC Milan 0 - 1 Tottenham
Kevin McCarra at San Siro

Richard Williams:
Milan shame San Siro

Gattuso set for UEFA probe
Player Ratings
Italian press reaction
Five Things We Learned
Don't Mess With Joe


Valencia 1 - 1 Schalke 04
Report I
Report II

Tim Vickery in South America

Last July, in his first press conference as Brazil coach, Mano Menezes said that he was aiming to include a sports psychologist in his back-up staff.

Brazil had just lost their heads as they bowed out to Holland in the World Cup quarter-finals and Menezes was aware that in 2014, on home soil, the pressure would be much greater.

The events of the last few days have shown just how important the mental aspect is likely to be for the next World Cup hosts.

Ernst Bouwes in Holland

Last week, the continuing discussions about the pros and cons of football agents reached the Dutch parliament. Socialist MP Tjeerd van Dekken called on the sports minister to consider legislation on agents picking up under-16 players. On the Labour Party's website, he used the term "ronselen", a word equivalent in meaning to the English phrase "press gang".

Roberto Gotta in Italy

Perhaps it was all meant to be like this. Perhaps soccer was indeed created to carry out an educational message. Forget all the deserved hype about the newly crowned Superbowl heroes the Green Bay Packers and how a team from a tiny town in North-east Wisconsin can survive and prosper in a league where the likes of New York and Chicago are represented. That beautiful structure is not real life. It is, rather, like real life should be. In the archaic world of European sports, reality bares its teeth in a more menacing, sinister manner, resembling the scary portrait that Italy's own Dante gave of Minos, the guardian of Hell who decides which 'circle' each poor soul - no pun intended - who is sent for judgment before him has to descend into.

UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Previews

AC Milan vs. Tottenham
Preview
Kevin McCarra: Tottenham must attack
Phil Minshull: Ibrahimovic and Robinho prove me wrong
Paolo Bandini: Europe remains a puzzle for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Valencia vs. Schalke 04
Preview

Sid Lowe in Spain

Gijón were heroic as they ended Barça's run of 16 straight La Liga wins, but they still dropped four places.

Sporting slip despite blunting Barça with draw that 'tastes like a win'.

England: Monday's Premier League Reports

Fulham 0 - 0 Chelsea
Dominic Fifield at Craven Cottage
Hughes wanted retake

Americans In The UK: Holden It Down

Stuart Holden played a very solid game on Sunday, helping Bolton defeat Everton by assisting the first goal.

The American was impressive as he set up the first goal of the game during the win. The midfielder’s free-kick led to Gary Cahill’s header in the 10th minute. Holden then sent a challenging ball into the area in the 39th minute but Howard cleared the danger. Late in the game, Holden appeared to score but his goal was called back by the referee.

The Rest

Americans On The Continent: Bocanegra Scores, But Lyon Overpower Les Verts

Carlos Bocanegra opened the scoring for St. Etienne against French giants and bitter rivals Olympique Lyonnais, but Lyon scored four straight goals to crush St. Etienne away from home.

The Rest

Farewell to a Phenomenon

'The farewell of a great,' the headline read. Above it, a photograph of Ronaldo - the original, Brazilian one - shedding a tear. It's a reaction one would expect of the press in Brazil, given all that O Fenômeno has done for the country's national team and the joy he's given to fans there and across Europe. It's a sign of the magnitude of greatness under consideration, though, that this headline isn't taken from a Brazilian website. Nor from a site in one of the three European countries whose leagues he graced - the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. It was the main headline on the website of Argentina's Olé on Monday morning.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

The 2007 Bundesliga champions are on their third coach of the season, were blown away at home to Nürnberg and have slipped to a worrying 17th place.

Stuttgart still buying into the 'not bad enough to go down' line.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Alessandro Matri's winner sank Inter and prompted an enthusiastic press to declare it 'a black-and-white orgasm'.

Matri makes the difference as Juventus win the Derby D'Italia.

Phil Ball in Spain

There's a wonderful phrase in Spanish called 'Estar de Rodriguez', which means that your wife and children have gone away for the weekend (in this case skiing) and left you at home alone, supposedly to catch up on domestic chores.

Monday Night Football

Who: Fulham vs. Chelsea
Where: Craven Cottage, London, UK
When: 3pm EST
U.S. TV: ESPN2
Preview

A Valentine to Wayne Rooney

Now we know why that purple-faced meanie, Sir Alex Ferguson, played nice with Master Wayne during their contractual smackdown in October. Rather than telling his Prodigal Striker never to darken the gates of Old Trafford again -- as he had done with David Beckham, Roy Keane and just about any other player who felt he was too big for his United shirt -- Sir Alex kept faith with Rooney.