Monday MLS Breakdown

Only in MLS could Los Angeles control its destiny in such a perverse manner.

The Western Conference leaders faced two stark choices as it entered last night's match with FC Dallas. Bruce Arena's side could either (1) clinch the Supporters' Shield and seal a date with Seattle (sixth overall in the combined league table) in the first round of the playoffs with a win or a draw or (2) arrange a two-legged series with FCD (tied for fourth overall) and hand the Shield and the corresponding home-field advantage in the Western Conference final over to Real Salt Lake with a defeat.

Rangers come from behind again to beat Old Firm rivals at Celtic Park

No Old Firm occasion is complete without its share of controversy and verbal jousting, and today's derby victory by Rangers supplied both in spades. This one ended with complaints from the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, over the performance of the referee, with Rangers' Walter Smith responding that undue pressure was exerted on the official by the Parkhead club before a ball was kicked.

Five things we learned from the Premier League this weekend

Peter Crouch appears to have been found out, Chelsea can live without Frank Lampard and Liverpool: the bald facts.

The Fifth Official: The Gardening Adonis

Few of us like Mondays 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 the past week in football.

Defender Brown announces retirement from Fire

The last remaining original member of the Chicago Fire is retiring. The team said Thursday that central defender C.J. Brown will end his career with Saturday's season finale at Chivas USA.

Bobbie B.S.'s better half, the future Dr. Dickie, enjoys the company of C.J. Brown at "Meet the Fire" day back in 1998 (?) at Soldier Field. At right is Ms. Souris...

Chilavert accused of hitting agent

An Argentine soccer agent said Monday that former Paraguay national team goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert hit him after a dispute over money allegedly owed from player transfers.

Pablo Seijas said the argument with Chilavert, who played in the 2002 World Cup, started when they met in Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires and continued until they arrived in Paraguay.

The Joy of Six: Surprise Winners

From Italy at Espana 1982 to Greece at Euro 2004, here are six teams that unexpectedly triumphed.

England: Premier League Weekend Previews & Predictions

Manchester United at Stoke City and Arsenal's trip to Manchester City on Sunday are the highlights of the weekend fixtures. Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur face Everton off the back of their dramatic midweek European tie, pace-setters Chelsea host Wolverhampton Wanderers while struggling Liverpool are in action at home to Blackburn Rovers. West Bromwich Albion will be seeking to maintain their terrific start to the season when they host Fulham at the Hawthorns. Aston Villa head to the North East as they lock horns with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has seen pressure mount on his shoulders of late, and this weekend his side are in action versus newly-promoted Blackpool. The last of the 3pm kick-offs sees Wigan Athletic meet North West counterparts Bolton Wanderers at the DW Stadium. Saturday teatime sees West Ham United welcome Newcastle United to Upton Park.
Preview

Dale Johnson previews Spurs vs. Everton
Jon Carter previews Man City vs. Arsenal
Paul Merson previews both of Sunday's matches

Lawro's Predictions

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview

Friday
Hamburg – Bayern Munich

Saturday
Borussia Moenchengladbach – Werder Bremen
Eintracht Frankfurt – Schalke
Hannover – Koeln
Nuernberg – Wolfsburg
Freiburg – Kaiserslautern

Sunday
Borussia Dortmund – Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen – Mainz
Stuttgart – St Pauli

Preview

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will be demanding no let-up from his in-form side as they host Racing Santander this weekend.

While life is looking good for Madrid, it is not so pleasant at the other end of the Primera Division standings where Real Zaragoza are having a tough time of it.

They are one of only two clubs still searching for a win and, to make matters worse, they host two-time reigning champions Barcelona this weekend. Possibly the most intriguing encounter in the eighth round of La Liga is Sunday's showdown between Villarreal and Atletico Madrid at El Madrigal.

Preview

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has an added motivation to find the back of the net at Bologna on Sunday. Del Piero is one goal shy of becoming Juve's all-time Serie A scorer. Inter Milan would like nothing more than for Samuel Eto'o to keep up his goalscoring form when they host Sampdoria on Sunday.

AC Milan, meanwhile, are desperate to forget Tuesday's European setback - a 2-0 loss at Real Madrid - their first slip in the Europe's elite club competition this season.

Massimiliano Allegri's men are focused on making it four wins in a row when they take on Napoli at the San Paolo on Monday.

Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic will be under pressure to take a win against Bari on Saturday.

Mihajlovic has led the Florence outfit to just one win in Serie A so far.

Preview

Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast backs New York's playoff credentials before examining the final matchday of the season.

Paul Gascoigne arrested one day after being warned he faces prison

Paul Gascoigne has been arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs one day after being warned he could face prison for drink-driving.

Europa League: Thursday Review

Liverpool and Juventus were held to draws while Manchester City and Atletico Madrid won on a busy Europa League night.

Wayne Rooney Changes His Mind

Wayne Rooney has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United, ending speculation about his future. It brings to an end an amazing ten days of claim and counter claim coming out of Old Trafford which began with Rooney refuting manager Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that he was suffering from an ankle injury and seemed set to culminate with the player being sold in January.


Mark Ogden: Rooney plays a blinder
John Brewin: Confusing
Daniel Taylor: Wayne stays

Champions League Chalkboards, Matchday Three

A new feature on Zonal Marking for Champions League weeks.

This site has long used the Guardian’s excellent Chalkboards facility to illustrate Premier League games. There is now a similar tool for analysing Champions League games, the TotalFootball iPhone app which allows real time analysis.

It also has a more specific range of options – nabling analysis of particular aspects of a game, like the passes received by a certain player, the type and distance of pass played, and passes played within the final third of the pitch.

Using that app, here is a Chalkboard for all sixteen Champions League games played this week.

QPR are good, but where do they rank among the greatest second-tier teams?

There is a heady list of contenders, ranging from Alf Ramsey's Ipswich through to 02-03 Pompey, via Leeds and Liverpool.

Georgina Turner's Column

Thoughts on the weekend's action in the Premier League:

Sid Lowe: Spanish award sparks controversy

The Príncipe de Asturias awards are Spain's equivalent of the Nobel Prizes, the most prestigious of decorations. Held every year in the Campoamor theater in Oviedo, designated by a 'jury' and handed out by the Prince of Asturias, heir to the Spanish crown, they reward excellence in a number of fields -- from international cooperation (in other words, peace), to science and arts. At every event not only does Prince Felipe attend, so too does Queen Sofia.

First XI: The stars who left Fergie's United

Wayne Rooney has informed Manchester United he will not sign a new contract and wants to leave the club. With a squad of ageing stars and youngsters yet to prove themselves, there are fears his departure could put the club into decline, but this is far from unchartered territory for Ferguson.

ESPNsoccernet selects the First XI stars who left Ferguson's United.