Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast previews a record-setting Saturday and offers its picks for the extensive Week 3 slate.

The Joy of Six: Real Madrid v Barcelona El Clásico Classics

From an 11-1 shellacking to Johan Cruyff's high point in a Barcelona shirt, via the Alfredo di Stefano affair.

England: FA Cup & Premier League Weekend Previews & Predictions

In the FA Cup Semifinals at Wembley, Chelsea play Aston Villa on Saturday and Tottenham face Portsmouth on Sunday.
Preview


Six matches from England's top flight take place this weekend, including Hull City's crunch game with Burnley and champions Manchester United's trip to Blackburn Rovers. Elsewhere, relegation candidates West Ham United tackle Sunderland at home, fourth-placed Manchester City meet Birmingham City, Liverpool take on Fulham at Anfield, while Wolves face Stoke.
Preview I
Preview II

Lawro's Predictions

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview

Bayern visit struggling Leverkusen this weekend as Dortmund, who face Mainz, look to advance to third place.

Friday
Borussia M’gladbach – Eintracht Frankfurt

Saturday
Hannover – Schalke
Hertha Berlin – Stuttgart
Hoffenheim – Koeln
Werder Bremen – Freiburg
Mainz – Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen – Bayern Munich

Sunday
Bochum – Hamburg
Nuernberg – Wolfsburg

Preview

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

It is all shaping up nicely for Jose Mourinho's men who turn their focus back to domestic matters this weekend with another meeting against Fiorentina, this time in the league.

Roma host relegation-threatened Atalanta on the back of four straight wins and having extended their unbeaten run in the league to 22 games last weekend.

Milan, who trail three points behind Inter and are two adrift of Roma, will be hoping not to become Catania's next victims when the two sides meet at the San Siro on Sunday.

Preview

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview

All the attention is on the Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in a match that could decide the destination of the La Liga title.

Away from the Bernabeu there are two more potentially crucial matches in La Liga this weekend, one in the fight for a top-four spot and the other to avoid relegation.

At the summit, third-placed Valencia travel to fifth-placed Real Mallorca knowing a victory could all but guarantee them a Champions League berth.

Preview

Quotes & Chants of the Week

"He's PlayStation."
Arsene Wenger after Arsenal got themselves into another fine Messi at the Nou Camp.

"To call him PlayStation, as Mr Wenger did, is a great definition. I don't know what level he'd be at, though - three or even four."
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hails the virtual football played by his four-goal wonder kid.

"I am going to get drunk tonight."
Gianfranco Zola hits the bottle after his West Ham side showed plenty of it to snatch a point at Everton.

"I did nothing wrong. I didn't drop my trousers. If anything, I was being affectionate and tasteful!"
QPR boss Neil Warnock after showing his (clothed) backside to Leicester fans who mockingly asked him to give them a wave.

"If you've got any kind of wood, touch it now."
Swindon commentator while Town were 3-0 up against Leeds with minutes to go.

"Goal scored by Alison Desire or whatever his name is."
Dean Windass on Soccer Saturday after Alassane N'Daiye scored for Crystal Palace.

"King Kanu, Kanu,
He's older than me and you,
His real age is 62,
King Kanu, Kanu."
Sung at Fratton Park to the 'experienced' Nigerian.

The Rest

Premier League stars draw self-portraits for charity

That's actually not half bad, Rio...





The Rest

UEFA Europa League Wrap

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will face former club Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Europa League after both clubs advanced. Fulham's extraordinary European adventure will continue after a 1-0 win in Germany gave them a 3-1 aggregate victory over Wolfsburg.

Wrap

Clint Dempsey Has a Thigh Injury

Couldn't really find any lengthy info on this, but he missed last night's victory over Wolfsburg and Fulham Gaffer Hodgson has been quoted as saying Deuce could be out for "some time." Hopefully it's nothing major -- Clint is a critical man for us if we're to do well in South Africa. I'll update when I can locate more details. -Sanford

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Reports & Fallout

Manchester United 3 - 2 Bayern Munich
Kevin McCarra: Match Report
Richard Jolly: Bayern now kings of comeback
Paul Hayward: Ferguson's gamble falls flat
Oliver Kay: Robben's brilliance finishes United
David Pleat: Tactical Analysis
Sir Alex blasts "typical Germans"
Player Ratings I
Player Ratings II




Bordeaux 1 - 0 Lyon
Match Report
Oliver Butler: Lyon reach semis for first time
Player Ratings

UEFA Champions League: Robben's Goal

I can't get the bloody thing to embed so here's the link. The goal is at the 9:50 mark.

Now that Robben is starting to physically look more like Zidane I suppose it's only natural that he score volleys like Zidane...

-Sanford

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Quarter-Final Second Leg Previews

Who: Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
When: 2:45pm EDT
U.S. TV: Fox Soccer Channel
First Leg Result: 1 - 2
Preview I
Preview II
Kevin McCarra: Old Trafford can rouse United
Phil McNulty: United must find cutting edge
Five concerns for Ferguson




Who: Bordeaux vs. Lyon
Where: Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France
When: 2:45pm EDT
U.S. TV: Fox Soccer Plus
First Leg Result: 1 - 3
Preview I
Preview II
Bordeaux primed for showdown

Martin Tyler's Column

I was at Old Trafford on Saturday to see Chelsea extend their impressive Premier League record against Manchester United. They have now scored 46 goals against United in the Premier League (more than any other team), won 12 games against them (more than any other team) and picked up 50 points (again, more than any other team). They also have the most Premier League points at Old Trafford with 22. It was not the first time Chelsea have done the Premier League double over United (the previous occasion came in 2004/05 under Jose Mourinho).

Referee Mike Dean demoted after Manchester United v Chelsea errors

The Premier League referee Mike Dean has been demoted to the Championship this weekend, as a punishment for his erratic display in Manchester United's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Old Trafford last Saturday.

Sid Lowe in Spain

After Lionel Messi's performance against Arsenal everyone agrees he's the best in the world - but what took them so long?

'Mythical, universal, the Lord's anointed one' - Spain hails Leo Messi.

First XI: World Cup Goalkeepers

While attacking players often take the glory, it's worth remembering that a number of World Cup goalkeepers have contributed more than those in front of them.

This week's First XI looks at the greatest World Cup 'keepers. Some are selected as much for their overall quality as their World Cup performances, others purely for their impact at a particular tournament.

The battle for South African football's future

To say that the chairman of South Africa's World Cup Organising Committee (OC), Irvin Khoza, and his CEO, Danny Jordaan, do not get along is a bit like saying John Terry and Wayne Bridge aren't the best of friends.

And last week, one of the World Cup's most enthralling sub-plots - a tale of power, greed, ambition, political connections and long-established rivalry - lit up like an exploding arms depot. The intrigue could give John Le Carre a run for his money.

Lee Dixon's World Cup Scouting: Defensive Midfield

If there is one area of the England team that has divided opinion in recent years, it is the midfield.

The perennial problem for the England manager used to be who would play down the left.

The main bone of contention then became whether Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard could play together in the middle, but, thanks to Gareth Barry's success as a holding midfielder, that is no longer an issue either.

UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Reports & Fallout

Barcelona 4 - 1 Arsenal
Kevin McCarra: Match Report
Harry Harris:
Arsenal blown away by Messi show
Oliver Kay: Messi leaves Arsenal dizzy
Dominic Fifield:
Cheeky, Unplayable, Untouchable
Matt Dickinson: Messi among best ever
David Pleat: Tactical Analysis
Wenger admits to fearing "empty future"
Player Ratings I
Player Ratings II


CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 Internazionale Milan
Nick Szczepanik:
Sneijder takes Inter on easy ride to semis

Marcos Haydon:
Imposing Inter make it look easy

Player Ratings