Igor Akinfeev fast becoming the heir to the legendary Lev Yashin

The CSKA Moscow skipper has enjoyed a tremendous 12 months with club and country and is set to seal his place among the game's greats Whichever way you look at it, 2012-13 was a remarkable season for Igor Akinfeev. An absolute colossus between the posts for both CSKA Moscow and Russia, it is only fitting that he has since added individual honours to the league and cup double he secured with his club. Named as the Russian Premier League...

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Simeone: Atletico can still win Supercopa

The Argentine was quite satisfied with his side's performance at the Vicente Calderon and thinks they can cause Barcelona trouble in the return leg Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes his team still have every chance of winning the Supercopa de Espana after drawing 1-1 at home to Barcelona in the first leg on Wednesday.David Villa helped the hosts to a 1-0 lead with a stunning volley on 12 minutes, but Neymar eventually levelled proceedings...

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Klopp: Dortmund were more creative in the past

The successful coach feels his side's attack is not at the same level as in previous years yet and is looking forward to the game against Werder Bremen Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes his side are less creative than last season, but is hopeful that things will go smoother for them in attack once their new signings have adapted to life at BVB.The Bundesliga giants brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this...

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Wenger hails Arsenal's 'mental strengths' in Fenerbahce win

The Gunners boss is delighted with the resilience and determination showed by his team as goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud snatched a decisive advantage Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his team's "mental strengths" after their convincing win over Fenerbahce on Wednesday.Goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud saw the Gunners claim a 3-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League play-off...

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Martino: Atletico superior to Barca for parts of the game

The Argentine coach has acknowledged that the hosts were the better team in the opening 45 minutes and said Lionel Messi will undergo further examination on his injury on Thursday Gerardo Martino has admitted that Atletico Madrid were superior to Barcelona for parts of Wednesday's Supercopa de Espana encounter at the Vicente Calderon, which ended in a 1-1 draw.A David Villa strike against his former team gave the hosts the lead early on, but...

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Arsenal and Basel in Champions League driving seat

A host of clubs were in action on Wednesday night as they bid to book their place in the group stages of European football's elite competition Arsenal and Basel have one foot in the Champions League proper after recording victories in the first-leg of their play-off encounters on Wednesday night.The Gunners ran out 3-0 winners over a disappointing Fenerbahce side, with goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud sealing a much...

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Barcelona suffer Messi injury scare

The Blaugrana's talisman could miss his side's upcoming games after being replaced at half-time on Wednesday night Barcelona face an anxious wait to determine the severity of Lionel Messi's hamstring injury after he was forced to come off at the end of the first half in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.A first Blaugrana goal for Neymar cancelled out David Villa's opener for Atleti in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday, but...

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BREAKING NEWS: Wolfsburg confirm Gustavo capture

The holding midfielder has opted against a move to Arsenal and will continue his career at the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg have announced on their official website that they have secured the services of Luiz Gustavo from Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee, beating Arsenal to the signature of the Brazil international. The 26-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions and will be officially presented...

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Barcelona's Mascherano reveals Rafael Benitez contact

The Argentina international has admitted that he is still in regular touch with his former Liverpool boss amid reports linking him with a move to Napoli Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted that he is still in regular contact with Rafael Benitez amid reports that Napoli are interested in signing the Argentine.The 29-year-old worked with the Spanish coach from 2007 until 2010 during his time at Liverpool and has fond memories...

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Arsenal - Aston Villa Betting Preview: Expect both sides to find the net at the Emirates

The Gunners host the Villains on the opening day of the season, with our tipster backing a Belgian superstar to continue where he left off last season After securing fourth place on the final day of last season, Arsenal begin another season looking to break their barren run of no trophy since 2005. Aston Villa are the visitors on Saturday afternoon after a strong end to last season, Paul Lambert’s men survived relegation and finished in...

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But Villas-boas maintains that the club do not want to sell their prize asset and are not willing to negotiate a transfer with Real and says the PFA and FWA player of the year remains tight-lipped about his future. “His mental state nobody knows because the player doesn’t speak,” the Portuguese told reporters. “The only thing that we are able to see or you [media] are able to see is the player arriving in and out of the training ground. “We are aware that Real Madrid are interested in the player. It doesn’t mean that we are willing to negotiate on him. Our idea is to count on Gareth. "We can speak to the players regarding their ambitions and we can explain to them that at certain stages players are under contract and have the responsibility towards their clubs and we as the club, or the chairman as the person who controls the club, has to defend their own interest.” Villas-Boas this week ruled Bale out of Spurs’ Premier League curtain-raiser with Crystal Palace as the forward continues to struggle with a foot injury and the former Chelsea and Porto boss has warned he may not be ready to feature until September. “Obviously he is very far off regarding his fitness compared to the others,” the 35-year-old added. “So it will take some time to bring him back to the level that the others are after six weeks. But the player is a super athlete. For Palace, for Dinamo Tbilisi, for Swansea, he will not be in line to threaten to come back.”

The Uruguay international has come a long way from his humble beginnings to become one of football's most expensive players of all-time He's the second most expensive footballer of all-time after completing a €64 million move from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but Edinson Cavani's rise to stardom is every inch a roots to riches tale.The explosive forward is set to make his full debut for Laurent Blanc's side in front of a partisan...

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Bale not talking to Tottenham team-mates, reveals Villas-Boas

The Spurs manager says the Wales international is keeping quiet about a possible transfer to Real Madrid, while maintaining the stance that his key player is not for sale Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas has revealed Gareth Bale is remaining silent over his potential transfer to Real Madrid.The Wales international has been the subject of a failed world record bid from Los Blancos, and negotiations seem to have reached an impasse as Spurs...

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Khedira not leaving Madrid, insists agent

The holding midfielder has recently been linked with a summer move, but his representative has stressed his client is going nowhere Sami Khedira has no intention of leaving Real Madrid this summer, his agent Jorg Neubauer has insisted.The holding midfielder no longer seems to be an undisputed starter at Madrid under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti and has recently been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, however, the Italian has denied...

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Valencia - Malaga Betting Preview: Back the hosts to win by at least two goals

Our man in Spain, Phil Kitromilides, believes that a much-weakened Malaga side will lose by at least a couple of goals on Saturday night As it has for many clubs in Spain, this summer has been one of upheavel and departures for both Valencia and Malaga. The two clubs have had to sell their best player with Roberto Soldado and Isco leaving Mestalla and La Rosaleda respectively and new managers taking the helm in the form of Miroslav Dukic...

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Fantasy Football: Gameweek 1 - who should you pick this week?

Goal takes a look at the best players to pick - or avoid - on the opening gameweek of the new Premier League season and selects an XI to tackle this week's fixtures START 'EM - WHICH PLAYERS SHOULD YOU PICK? For those looking to make a quick start in the Goal Fantasy Football game, loading your team with Chelsea players (a maximum of three is allowed) is a great way to ensure short-term gains. The west Londonders take on Hull City and...

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Granero joins Real Sociedad on loan

The 26-year-old has returned to La Liga on a season-long deal with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign Esteban Granero has agreed to join Real Sociedad on a season-long loan from QPR.The move marks a return to Spain for the 26-year-old who joined the English club from Real Madrid in 2012.The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away from the club since their relegation from the Premier League last season,...

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Costinha targets trophy with Pacos Ferreira

The former Portugal international believes he can surpass the achievements of predecessor Paulo Fonseca and lead the club to a first major title New Pacos Ferreira boss Costinha is adamant that he can win a trophy in his first season at the helm.The former Portugal international is well aware that he has a big job on his hands surprassing the achievements of his predecessor, who led the club to a third-placed finish in the Primeira Division...

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Gundogan ruled out until September

The Germany international aggravated a back problem against Paraguay and is not expected to return for Borussia Dortmund until next month Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been ruled out of action for a fortnight with a back injury.The Germany international had to be withdrawn during the Euro 2012 semi-finalists' 3-3 draw with Paraguay on Wednesday night due to discomfort in his spinal region.Further tests upon his return to ...

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Van Gaal: Dutch played very badly at times in Portugal draw

The Netherlands coach was satisfied with the first half against Paulo Bento's men but slammed his side's performance in the latter 45 minutes Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has criticised his side's "very bad" second-half performance against Portugal on Wednesday. The 2010 World Cup finalists were three minutes away from winning on the road after new Roma signing Kevin Strootman gave them the lead in the 17th minute, but a Cristiano...

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Wolfsburg: Luiz Gustavo chances are good

The Gunners face the prospect of missing out on another top summer transfer target despite being confident of sealing a €20 million deal for the Brazil international Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has denied that the club have completed a deal for Arsenal target Luiz Gustavo.The Gunners have been looking to seal a €20 million deal for the out-of-favour Bayern midfielder as Arsene Wenger hopes to add to the solitary summer arrival...

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Thiago Silva reveals PSG doubts

The Brazilian says he was unsure if leaving AC Milan for Ligue 1 was the right decision but now believes French football is among the best in the world Thiago Silva has revealed he harboured major doubts about leaving AC Milan for Paris Saint-Germain last summer.The defender, 28, left San Siro for an estimated €42 million and - along with fellow ex-Rossoneri team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic - helped propel les Parisiens to the Ligue 1 title for...

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Arsenal will be active in the transfer market, says Wenger

The Gunners have signed just one player so far, but the Frenchman says the north London club will be moving to buy players before deadline day passes Arsene Wenger has indicated Arsenal will be aiming to sign players before the end of the transfer window.The Gunners are yet to sign a marquee player, despite pursuing Gonzalo Higuain, who left Real Madrid for Napoli, and continuing to monitor the situation of Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.Yaya...

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Petkovic: Lazio aren't afraid of Juventus

Ahead of the Supercoppa Italiana on Sunday the Biancocelesti coach rejects the notion that his side are underdogs, though he accepts that the Bianconeri are Scudetto favourites Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic has rejected suggestions Juventus are favourites to win Sunday's Supercoppa Italiana.The Biancocelesti triumphed over Roma in the Coppa Italia final last season to tee up a clash with the back-to-back Serie A champions a week before the...

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Moyes: Rooney is staying & Man Utd targeting several players

The English champions are "working very hard" to complete signings, says the Scot, who was impressed by the striker's performance for England David Moyes remains adamant Wayne Rooney will not be leaving Manchester United, but is confident of signing players before the transfer window closes.Rooney played for over an hour last night as England beat Scotland 3-2 at Wembley, despite having missed the Premier League champions' recent pre-season...

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Nigeria can win World Cup for Africa - Kanu

The former Arsenal striker believes that, on the back of the team's Africa Cup of Nations success, going far in Brazil next summer is a possibility Nwankwo Kanu has explained that Nigeria have their sights set on winning World Cup 2014 on behalf of Africa.In 2010 Ghana were a penalty shootout away from becoming the first nation from the continent to reach the last four of the tournament.The ex-Arsenal, Inter and Ajax striker, however, believes...

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JD's Betting Blog: Oppose the newly promoted Premier League sides this weekend

JD returns with a preview of the new season in England and Spain and includes two bets for this weekend one of which involves backing against Hull, Crystal Palace and Cardiff We have a very exciting season ahead as some of the top leagues in Europe kick off this weekend.  The English Premier League is likely to be more competitive than ever after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. The stage is set for an enthralling battle between...

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Sabella: Messi is irreplaceable

The Argentina boss has stressed that they are a different team without their star player, but was happy with their display versus Italy Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has admitted that Lionel Messi is irreplaceable, but was pleased with his side's performance without the Barcelona star in Wednesday's 2-1 international friendly win over Italy.Messi was forced to withdraw from the Argentina squad for the match in Rome due to a muscular problem...

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Skrtel ready to fight for Liverpool place

The centre-back, who has been the subject of interest from Napoli, is looking forward to competing with new signing Kolo Toure for a starting berth Martin Skrtel has welcomed the arrival of Kolo Toure at Liverpool and claimed that the competition will drive him to improve.Cote d'Ivoire international Toure has given manager Brendan Rodgers a new option at centre-back for the coming season, with the retirement of Jamie Carragher. Skrtel started...

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Swansea City-Manchester United Betting Preview: Expect goals at both ends at the Liberty Stadium

David Moyes takes charge of his first league fixture as Red Devils boss on Saturday and our tipster expects a suitably memorable high-scoring match to mark the occasion For the first time since the foundation of the Premier League, Manchester United will start the season without Alex Ferguson on the sidelines when they travel to Swansea on Saturday.After an unconvincing pre-season, David Moyes will have been relieved to pick up his first...

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