The Five-Point European Review

Porto saw off Benfica to claim pole position in the Portuguese title race, while in Germany Schalke and Bayern Munich both lost ground on leaders Borussia Dortmund. In Serie A, Juventus could only manage a draw, but both Manchester clubs continued their winning ways in England. Barcelona ground out a win that keeps their faint hopes alive of catching Real Madrid in Spain. Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Review

The Fifth Official

Few of us like a Monday morning, 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.

Chelsea Fire Andre Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked by Chelsea after less than a year in charge at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's decision comes on the back of Saturday's 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion and a run of just three Premier League wins in their last 12 games. The 34-year-old Portuguese only took over as manager in June 2011. Former Chelsea midfielder Roberto di Matteo has been put in charge as first-team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season.



Chelsea an 'embarrassment' to league and next manager faces 'hell'


Richard Jolly: RIP AVB


Paul Hayward: No Chelsea manager will last under Roman Abramovich's risible ownership


Sid Lowe: José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola make intriguing contenders for Chelsea


Henry Winter: Mourinho only man who can rescue Chelsea


Phil McNulty: Time waits for no man at Stamford Bridge


Richard Williams: André Villas-Boas's callowness was no match for Chelsea's veterans

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, Andres Iniesta temporarily ditches Barcelona to become an albino pirate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic accidentally knocks out a team-mate, disgruntled fans waste perfectly good cooked sausages and chicken drumsticks pelting players, and Louis Saha explains why some footballers prefer to use escort girls.

The Joy of Six: Liverpool vs. Arsenal Matches

From a post-war Joe Mercer-inspired Cup final to an epic semi played four times, here's half a dozen classic encounters.

USA's Five Greatest Soccer Results

From beating England in the 1950 World Cup to beating Italy in Genoa, The Guardian looks at the USA's finest soccer moments.

Fifa security launches investigation into Bahrain's 'unusual' 10-0 victory over Indonesia

Fifa has launched an investigation into the "unusual outcome" of Bahrain's 10-0 victory over a weakened Indonesia team in a World Cup qualifying match.

England: Premier League Weekend Previews & Predictions

After a humbling defeat to rivals Arsenal last week, Tottenham face another tough task against Manchester United in the Premier League. The champions may have earned a last-gasp victory at Norwich, but a wounded Spurs at White Hart Lane will be a different prospect altogether. Manchester City will be hoping United slip up as they look to extend their lead at the top with a win over Bolton, while Carling Cup winners Liverpool host Arsenal in Saturday's early kick-off. Elsewhere, Newcastle play Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby while struggling Blackburn and Aston Villa battle for much-needed points at Ewood Park.

Preview

Team News


Premier League Spotlight


Liverpool vs. Arsenal: Preview
Preview II


Newcastle vs. Sunderland: Preview
Why the Tyne-Wear Derby is all the matters


Tottenham vs. Manchester United: Preview
Preview II


Paul Merson's Predictions

Lawro's Predictions

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

Already well adrift of great rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona must face Sporting Gijon this weekend without top scorer and talisman Lionel Messi. Real Madrid host Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol on Sunday looking to continue their seemingly relentless march to the title. Defeat by Barca in December is the only blemish on a perfect record dating back to a goalless draw with Racing Santander on September 21. Third-placed Valencia will look to get back to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats by Barcelona and Sevilla when they travel to Granada on Sunday.

Preview


Quiniela

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino believes his team must turn in a flawless performance on Saturday if they are to beat Palermo at La Favorita. Juventus are unbeaten this season and host Chievo on Saturday before playing their postponed game at Bologna four days later. Should results go their way, Antonio Conte's side could top the standings heading into the next round of games. Udinese host in-form Atalanta on Sunday as the battle for a top-three place and a Champions League berth continues. Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri heads into Sunday's home game against Catania under immense pressure. Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Napoli was the team's fourth consecutive defeat and fifth in six league games. The Nerazzurri have fallen to seventh place, nine points behind Udinese.

Preview

England: Chelsea consider bringing in Benitez

On his way back to England...?

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will hold a summit meeting on Friday, to decide whether to dismiss Andre Villa-Boas and parachute in Rafa Benitez, according to ESPNsoccernet sources. On the eve of Chelsea's Premier League meeting with Bolton, and with an eye on the return Champions League leg with Napoli at Stamford Bridge, the Russian owner has a vital decision to make.

Sid Lowe in Spain

Roberto Soldado had waited long enough already; he wasn't going to wait any more. He made his Spain debut back in 2007 and played just twice, without scoring. For months people had been pleading with the Spain coach Vicente del Bosque to return him to the selección but the coach ignored them. Soldado could have been forgiven for thinking that he was never going to make it, that maybe there was something he didn't know -- some hidden factor that counted against him.

Soldado makes his case for Spain.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Was it really "a wonderful defeat," as Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote? The supporters in the Weserstadion had certainly shown little leniency with their team at the final whistle, when the Germany players were jeered and booed on their way into the changing room. "We could have easily conceded three or four, we completely left the back four to their own devices tonight," admitted Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Müller. Miroslav Klose, too, thought that the performance against the French had been indefensible (pun intended). "Of course the timing of this game in the middle of the season is not great but it's pointless to look for excuses," said the Lazio forward. National manager Joachim "Jogi" Löw went one step further. He professed himself "angry" with the way France had dominated and won the match 2-1. "They were superior in the course of the 90 minutes, also in pure football terms," Löw told ZDF television. "We were shown that there's still much to do defensively before the European championship comes along." Joked Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in reference to the side's brand new shirts, "Germany is too green for the title."  

Germany's defense gives Löw cause for concern ahead of Euros.

James Richardson's European Paper Review

As the international friendlies throw up some interesting results James digs through the continental press to bring you the best reaction, including Italy down in the dumps after being beaten by the USA, the French flying high against Germany, mild annoyance in Holland and the Catalan sports dailies paying no attention whatsoever to Spain's demolition of Venezuela.

Tim Vickery in South America

The World Cup can be a cruel thing. No matter how well the team is doing in the competition, it need not take a bad game, or even a bad half, for them to be eliminated. A bad few minutes can be enough - as Brazil know very well.

Can Brazil rely on David Luiz?

Rewind to 2001: The Iceman Cometh

On February 28, 2001 the first foreign coach of England, Sven-Goran Eriksson, took charge of his first game. It had been an appointment that saw widespread criticism from fans and the media, but the Three Lions took on Spain at Villa Park and emerged victorious with a 3-0 win coming courtesy of an unlikely goalscoring trio of Nick Barmby, Emile Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu.

Tottenham striker Louis Saha says women pose biggest danger for young Premier League players

Tottenham's Louis Saha has claimed in his new autobiography that some footballers are sex addicts who are "paranoid about women".

International Friendly Review & Reports

England produced a stirring finish to rally from two goals down but a late goal from Arjen Robben handed Netherlands a 3-2 win. France gave Germany a reality-check in Bremen, as Laurent Blanc's side grabbed a 2-1 away victory over one of the Euro 2012 favourites. In Jose Pekerman's first game in charge, Colombia defeated Mexico 2-0 as Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado found the back of the net. Substitute Simon Cox denied Czech Republic victory in Dublin as Republic of Ireland fought back to claim a 1-1 draw.

Review

England 2 - 3 Netherlands
Daniel Taylor at Wembley
John Brewin at Wembley
Richard Williams at Wembley
Dominic Fifield at Wembley

Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Czech Republic
David Hytner at Aviva Stadium

Germany 1 - 2 France
Report

Mexico 0 - 2 Colombia
Report

Switzerland 1 - 3 Argentina
Report

International Friendly Reports & Analyses: Italy 0 - 1 United States

It had to be Clint...

American players applauded each other and their fans. Their supporters cheered loudly and proudly waved the red, white and blue. Gaining a rare victory over a soccer power, the United States beat Italy 1-0 Wednesday night on Clint Dempsey's goal in the 55th minute for the Americans' first win over the Azzurri in 11 games over 78 years.

Grant Wahl: Three Thoughts
Grant Wahl: U.S. looks to build on win
Jeff Carlisle: Player Ratings
Steve Davis: Player Ratings

Reina embroiled in race row over ad

Reina, whose surname means 'queen' in Spanish, was shown being introduced to a tribal chief who chooses him as his partner in the advert. British campaign group Operation Black Vote complained to Spanish insurance firm Groupama Seguros that one advert from a series featuring Reina "depicts black people in a jungle scenario as stupid, backward, animalistic homosexuals."