PSG 5-0 Celtic UEFA Champions League Highlights 12/09/2017

PSG vs Celtic
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 12 September 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT 
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow 

Paris Saint Germain faced Celtic yesterday at Celtic Park Stadium, Glasgow. The UEFA Champions League match ended with a big win for PSG. The final score of the game was 5-0.

PSG 5-0 Celtic: 
19' Neymar 0-1 // 34' Kylian Mbappe 0-2 // 40' Edinson Cavani (pen.) 0-3 // 83' Mikael Lustig (o.g.) 0-4 // 85' Edinson Cavani 0-5

 

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Manchester United vs FC Basel UEFA Champions League 12-09-2017

Manchester United vs FC Basel
Date: 12 September 2017
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester.

The last two matches took place six years ago, also in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, which resulted with ineligibility of Manchester United to pass in the knockout phase. That is definitely an additional motive for Man United to revenge to the guests from Switzerland, Basel. The fact that Manchester United started their new season with three consecutive victories shows that the home team is very much capable to win all three points in this match, although it drew away last weekend with Stoke 2-2.
However, ManchesterUnited was already thinking about Basel in that match which is why coach, Mourinho, sent on the pitch a combined team, which was especially visibly in attack, while in defence he gave chance to stopper’s duo Bailly-Jones, who cannot play in the UEFA Champions League due to suspension. Concerning problems with injuries, on the injured list are currently: defenders Rojo and Shaw; midfielder Fellaini and Young; and experienced forward Ibrahimovic.
Basel, on the other hand, are currently occupy only the 3rd place in the Swiss championship. The team won just two points in last three rounds, while before that they won four consecutive matches, three in the league and one in the cup. After that team led by coach, Wicky, who replaced Fischer this summer, had firstly drew at home with Lugano and Sion away, while last weekend the team lost at home by last positioned Lausanne 2-1.
This mishap was the last thing Basel need before the UEFA Champions League’s start, especially as they will face the biggest favourite in the Group A, Manchester United, right at the beginning of group phase. Later on Basel will meet Portugal Benica and CSKA Mosow. As a result of that it is expected from Basel players to not restrict themselves on defence at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening as they anyway have nothing to lose, taking into account that no player is injured comes handy to coach Wicky.

Probable lineups:
Manchester United: de Gea – Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof, Blind – Pogba, Matic – Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford – Lukaku
FC Basel: Vaclik – Lang, Suchy, Akanji, Riveros – Xhaka, Zuffi – Steffen, Elyounoussi, Bua – van Wolfswinkel

Manchester United last 5 matches results:

08/08/17 Real Madrid 2 – 1 Manchester United
13/08/17 Manchester United 4 – 0 West Ham
19/08/17 Swansea City 0 – 4 Manchester United
26/08/17 Manchester United 2 – 0 Leicester City
09/09/17 Stoke City 2 – 2 Manchester United

FC Basel last 5 matches results:

10/08/17 Basel 3 – 2 Grasshopper
13/08/17 Wettswil-Bonst… 0 – 2 Basel
20/08/17 Basel 1 – 1 Lugano
27/08/17 Sion 1 – 1 Basel
09/09/17 Basel 1 – 2 Lausanne Sport




 

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FC Barcelona vs Espanyol La Liga 09-09-2017

FC Barcelona vs Espanyol
Competition: La Liga

Date: 9 September 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT 
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Taking into account the two heavy strikes by their biggest opponent, Real Madrid, in two Super Cup competitions, FC Barcelona could be overwhelmed by the opening of La Liga. The team even feared from Betis and Deportivo Alaves with, whom they played, because they were shaky and incomplete, however, they celebrated with 2-0 in both duels and can be especially happy that their net is preserved intact. The team is no longer deadly in attack, which is again understandable, because Neymar has left FC Barcelona and player, L.Suarez, is injured.
Leonel Messi is all Barcelona has, and he has with two goals in the second half dropped Deportivo Alaves in the last round, while they defeated Betis with two goals in the first half. Center-back, Pique, has returned to the team, and striker L.Suarez is back as well, while the team, in the meantime, finally managed to engage player, Dembele, from Borussia Dortmund and now have three good strikers.
On the other hand, Espanyol has already proved a lot in the first round in a very unpleasant hosting at Sevilla, when they played a good match that ended with 1-1. The team has ruined it all in the upcoming duel when they welcomed Leganes and were a big favourite, however, the match was not very good and one goal scored meant a defeat. Coach Flores, was content after Sevilla, but he made one change in the game against Leganes and entered, Hernan Perez for the first minute instead of Diopa.
In the first minutes of the match, player, Javi Lopez, was injured and Granero came in, which has caused some other changes in the team, which obviously didn't end well. Some good news for Espanyol is the recoveries from the injuries of players: V.Sanchez and A.Vazquez. In a slightly more closed information, Diop will play again, and not H.Perez, because Duarte and Javi Lopez are injured. Players: S.Sanchez and midfielder Darder were brought in the meantime, but it is probably early for their appearance.

Probable lineups:
FC Barcelona: ter Stegen – Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, J.Alba – Busquets, S.Roberto, Iniesta – Messi, L.Suarez, Dembele
Espanyol: P.Lopez – V.Sanchez, Dav.Lopez, Naldo, Martin – Diop, J.Fuego, Jurado, Piatti – Baptistao, G.Moreno 

 

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France 0-0 Luxembourg World Cup Qualification Highlights 03-09-2017

France vs Luxembourg
Competition: WC Qualification Europe
Date: 3 September 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT Venue: Stadium Municipal, Toulouse

France fail to defeat Luxembourg in the World Cup Qualification, who succeded in holding Les Bleus to a stalemate in one of the greatest results in their history. The match ended with a draw 0-0 and Luxembourg goalkeeper, Jonathan Joubert,was the star of the match.

 

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France vs Netherlands 2018 World Cup Qualification 31-08-2017

France vs Netherlands
Competition: World Cup Qualification Europe
Date: 31 August 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stade de France, Paris.

Winning in Amsterdam, Netherlands, might mean a direct qualification for the French team for Russia as their schedule by the end of qualifying cycle is far less demanding than of the Swedes, who are positioned above the Tricolours only due to having better goal difference. It is true that in the previous round the Swedes won at home coach Deschamps players by 2-1, which was their first defeat in this qualifications but in the meantime the French won too although it was a friendly match with England 3-2.

Of course, that should raise their self-confidence before continuation of the qualification especially as they have no more place for mistakes if they want to finish as the first in the group. Regarding the Tricolour team that will face the Netherlands, Deschamps cannot count on injured defenders: Varane and Mendy, and winger Payet, and besides he left out from the rooster midfielder: Bakayoko and Sissoko, forwards Martial and Dembele, as well as from before written off Benzema.

France last 5 matches:

25/03/17 Luxembourg 1 – 3 France
28/03/17 France 0 – 2 Spain
02/06/17 France 5 – 0 Paraguay
09/06/17 Sweden 2 – 1 France
13/06/17 France 3 – 2 England

The Dutch team has a fair deal of problems in this qualification and besides home defeat to France they lost to Bulgaria away two rounds ago, while out of four remaining games, they won three and drew away with Sweden. In the end that might not be enough to end up even on the 2nd place, which leads to the play-off, given they have three points fewer than the French and Swedes four rounds before the end.

On top of it, they have this difficult away match in Paris, although their self-confidence has increased a bit in the meantime after they won friendlies with:the Ivory Coast, Morocco and Luxembourg by high 5-0 in the previous qualifying round. Right because of that coach, Advocaat, has announced that will not make too many changes in the starting line-up, especially as defenders: Karsdorp, van Dijk and Bruma, and midfielder Klaassen are out of action because of injuries.

Netherlands last 5 matches:

25/03/17 Bulgaria 2 – 0 Netherlands
28/03/17 Netherlands 1 – 2 Italy
31/05/17 Morocco 1 – 2 Netherlands
04/06/17 Netherlands 5 – 0 Cote d’Ivoire
09/06/17 Netherlands 5 – 0 Luxembourg

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Germany vs Mexico Confederations Cup Semi-final 29-06-2017

Germany vs Mexico 
Competition: Confederations Cup 
Venue: Olimpiyskiy Stadion Fisht, Sochi
Date: 29 June 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:00 GMT

Germany team started the Confederations Cup competition with a dramatic win over relative minnows Australia (3-2) but cruised through the group stage, only dropping points to Chile team in a 1-1 draw. By defeating Cameroon by a comfortable 3-1 margin in the third group stage match, Germany extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games with 10 wins and 3 draws. This is the 1st meeting between these two sides since 2005 when Germany beat Mexico 4-3 on penalties in the Confederations Cup.

Timo Werner bagged two goals last time out and should retain his starting berth as lone forward. The likes of Julian Draxler and Leon Goretzka should play just behind the RB Leipzig star, while Sebastian Rudy and Emre Can are likely to start in the middle of the park. Players, Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich, will play as wing backs with players, Antonio Rudiger, Shkodran Mustafi and Matthias Ginter, forming the three man backline. Coach, Joachim Low, is likely to rely on Marc Ter Stegen as first-choice goalkeeper.

Mexico, on the other side, have qualified as runners-up in Group A. The team was impressive in the 2-2 draw against Portugal on matchday 1 and fight back from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 win against  New Zealand in the second fixture. Mexico recorded back to back wins by overcaming Russia (2-1) in the third and final match. Mexico have lost just one of their last 16 matches. El Tri have scored two goals in each of the three games so far and could find the back of the net against Germany, that has conceded in all three matches so far.

Player, Carlos Salcedo, is ruled out for the remainder of the competition because of a shoulder injury while Chicharito Hernandez, Hector Moreno and Diego Reyes are all doubts for this match. Hirving Lozano is likely to make the starting XI once again with Marco Fabian and Raul Jimenez supporting Chicharito up front. Andres Guardado is banned for this match because he has two yellow cards. 

Germany vs Mexico probable lineups:

Germany: terStegen – Ginter, Mustafi, Rudiger – Kimmich, Rudy(Can), Goretzka, Draxler, J.Hector – Ti.Werner, Stindl

Mexico: Ochoa – Moreno, Araujo, Alanis – Damm, J.dos Santos, D.Reyes, Aquino – Fabian – Chicharito, R.Jimenez

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Germany vs Australia Confederations Cup 19-06-2017

Germany vs Australia
Competition: Confederations Cup
Date: 19 June 2017

Kick-off Time: 16:00 GMT
Venue: Olimpiyskiy Stadion Fisht, Sochi 

Germany team, the current world champions, might be the biggest favourites in the Confederations Cup competition, but their coach, Low, still decided to rest almost all the stars and they have arrived in Russia with a combined composition and a lot of debutants. It would take a long time to mention all the players, who won't be part of this competition, so it is easier to mention who is present from those who have played a more significant role so far: center-back Mustafi, left back J.Hector, and midfielders Can and Draxler. In this new edition, Germany team has played two duels and in that friendly match with Denmark the result was 1-1, while they defeated San Marino with 7-0 in a qualifying match.

New striker, Wagner, has scored all 03 goals, although San Marino is not a measurable rival, either in strength or current form. Much better test was a duel with Denmark, and they were two minutes before the end saved by Kimmich's goal, although they dominated for the most part of the game. Pretty different teams have been playing in the 02 mentioned duels and therefore it is difficult to say which players will start this duel, but it is fairly certain that they will play with three center-backs and in a slightly different formation than usual when they are complete.

Germany last 5 matches:

15/11/16 Italy 0 – 0 Germany
22/03/17 Germany 1 – 0 England
26/03/17 Azerbaijan 1 – 4 Germany
06/06/17 Denmark 1 – 1 Germany
10/06/17 Germany 7 – 0 San Marino

Australia has a reputation of playing very good at the Confederations Cup in the past, but those were the years when Australia had a good team, while they are now of a pretty modest quality and they are the outsiders on this competition. Australia doesn't have great prospects even in this group with Germany and Chile, but they have the right to hope for some surprise. Much more important for Australia is what will happen in the last two qualifying rounds for World Cup, because they are now only 3rd in their group, and that position only takes them in the additional playoffs. It is also important to say that the second ranked, Saudi Arabia, has the same number of points, and leading Japan only one more, and a direct placement on the World Cup is also achievable for the Australia team.

Australia has not lost any games in the previous eight rounds, however, they have made four draws with four wins and this is a problem. In the previous two duels, they have celebrated two victories and particularly important is the one against their direct opponent of Saudi Arabia, that was defeated with 3-2 after a great fight. The problem is that they will play in Japan at the next round, and until then they remain in this competition, while they were defeated in the last game by Brazil with 4-0. They did not play in their strongest team, and the biggest problem is the injury of the midfielder, Jedinak.

Australia last 5 matches:

15/11/16 Thailand 2 – 2 Australia
23/03/17 Iraq 1 – 1 Australia
28/03/17 Australia 2 – 0 UAE
08/06/17 Australia 3 – 2 Saudi Arabia
13/06/17 Australia 0 – 4 Brazil

 

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