Messi sent off, Athletic beats Barca in Spanish Super Cup

Lionel Messi lost his cool after another Barcelona collapse on Sunday, hitting an opponent away from the ball and being sent off for the first time while playing with the Catalan club in the team's 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup. Inaki Williams' goal in extra time gave Athletic the lead and a come-from-behind win. Barcelona had little chance of recovering when Messi swung his right arm toward the head of an Athletic player while trying to free himself. Messi was shown the red card following a video review. The card came in his 753rd appearance with Barcelona. He has been sent off twice with Argentina, including in his national team debut in 2005. The other red card with Argentine came in the 2019 Copa America. Messi could face a lengthy suspension for his ejection on Sunday. After Athletic scored in the 90th minute to seal a 2-2 draw and force extra time, Williams netted the title-clinching goal with a neat curling shot from just inside the area, with the ball hitting the far post before going into the top corner. ''Because of what it meant for the team, this is the best goal of my career,'' Williams said. The goal three minutes into extra time secured Athletic its third Super Cup title, and first since it beat Barcelona in the 2015 final. The Basque Country club also won the title in 1984. Barcelona was seeking its 15th Super Cup title, and third in the last five seasons. It was also looking to end its title drought after going without a trophy last season, something that hadn't happened since 2007-08. The team got off to a slow start this season and trails Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league. Messi, who asked to leave Barcelona in the offseason but had his request denied, had been doubtful to play in the final because of an unspecified fitness issue that had caused coach Ronald Koeman to leave him out of the semifinal against Real Sociedad on Wednesday, when Barcelona prevailed in a penalty shootout. He helped set up Antoine Griezmann's first goal on Sunday but was far from his best throughout the match at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville. Barcelona opened the scoring with a shot from the middle of the area by Griezmann in the 40th minute but Athletic equalized two minutes later with a close-range strike by Oscar de Marcos after a well-placed cross by Williams. Griezmann put Barcelona ahead with another shot from inside the area in the 77th but Athletic evened the match again with Asier Villalibre finding the net following a set piece in the 90th. Villalibre was the player hit by Messi in the final minutes as the players tangled together outside the area. The ball was already on the left side of the area when the incident happened. Athletic, which beat defending champion Real Madrid 2-1 in the other semifinal, had a 57th-minute goal disallowed by video review because of offside following a header by Raul Garcia, who had netted twice in the semifinal. The final was the third match in charge for Athletic coach Marcelino Garcia Toral. His debut had been against Barcelona in a league game at home, when Messi scored twice to help the Catalan club recover from an early goal by Williams and secure a 3-2 victory. ''The players deserve all the credit for this achievement,'' the new coach said. ''They defeated Real Madrid and Barcelona to be able to win this trophy.'' Accompanying the Athletic squad in Seville was Aritz Aduriz, the club's former striker who was forced to retire last season because of a hip injury. When Athletic defeated Barcelona in 2015, the Spanish Super Cup final was still played in two legs between the Spanish league and Copa del Rey winners. This year's edition was moved to southern Spain after the coronavirus pandemic stopped it from being played in Saudi Arabia for a second straight season. The tournament's revamped Final Four format includes the top two finishers in the Spanish league and the finalists of the Copa del Rey from the previous season. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

James Harden responds to criticism from John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins

Harden responds to criticism from Wall and Cousins originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington Friday was James Harden's introductory press conference with the Brooklyn Nets, which gave him his first opportunity to explain his side of what went wrong in Houston following one of the more eventful, and entertaining, exits for a star player in recent memory. Part of his end there included his new teammates John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins throwing some shade in his direction, as they complained in subtle and overt ways about him giving up on the team and wanting out. Wall complained of Harden not buying in and said that hurt the team. Cousins went as far as to say Harden's actions were "disrespectful." Harden was asked about it and took issue with what Cousins said in particular. "I wasn't disrespectful to anyone. Those guys had just got there to Houston. I'd been there for a very long time," he told reporters in a teleconference. "I've been through all the ups and downs with that organization and I wasn't disrespectful to anyone. I just made a comment that the team as a whole wasn't good enough to compete for a title and, at the stage in my career where I am now, that's what I would love." Harden went on to admit he didn't handle his end in Houston the best way he could. "There were some things I felt were out of my character, but the ultimate goal was to get somewhere where I could compete. Here I am in Brooklyn," he said. Harden, though, also referred to himself as an "elite player, an elite teammate, an elite leader," defending his final days in Houston as not indicative of the bigger picture of his career. Now, the Nets will find that out for themselves. Certainly, the talent is intriguing now that he's playing with Kevin Durant (again), Kyrie Irving and what remains a fairly deep roster despite the trade. Whether they can actually make it work and win a championship is the big question and both Harden and Irving will need to show their recent issues are behind them to actually prove their doubters wrong. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

No word on Irving's return to Nets after he misses 3 games

NEW YORK (AP) -- The timing of Kyrie Irving's return to the Brooklyn Nets remains unknown, with coach Steve Nash saying Monday he had no update on the point guard's status. The Nets listed Irving as out for their game Tuesday against Denver, which will be the fourth straight he misses for personal reasons. Nash has said it's a private matter and has refused to discuss Irving's absence in detail. He did say that he believed Irving was tested for the coronavirus on Sunday, though he wasn't sure about Monday. Whether Irving has continued to be tested during his time away could determine how quickly he would be eligible to play upon his return. The Nets have lost two of their three games without Irving. Kevin Durant missed two of them because of the NBA's health and safety protocols for COVID-19 before returning Sunday in a 129-116 loss to Oklahoma City. Basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Manchester United trio Paul Pogba, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw suffer injury setbacks ahead of cruch week

Paul Pogba, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw missed Manchester United’s FA Cup third round tie with Watford through injury, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed. The trio played no part in United's win at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, having all started in the EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City three days earlier. Solskjaer made nine changes against Watford, naming Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford on the substitutes bench among others, though Pogba, Lindelof and Shaw were not included in the matchday squad. The United manager confirmed that all three were missing through injury in his post-match press conference, though was optimistic about Eric Bailly after the defender was forced off during the first half. Bailly was substituted for Maguire after a collision with goalkeeper Dean Henderson left him dazed and requiring assistance to leave the pitch. Solskjaer did not know the full extent of Bailly's problem but believed the issue to be with the 26-year-old's neck and did not suspect that Bailly suffered concussion. "He got a good whack," he said. "I don't think it's concussion, hopefully a muscle injury and we'll have to check it tomorrow. Fingers crossed he won't be out for too long." After the final whistle, Bailly confirmed his injury was only minor. "Good job by the team to advance in the FA Cup. I am OK, it was just a knock," he tweeted. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Messi 'always had the dream' to play in US, could leave Barcelona for free in 2021

Messi 'always had the dream' to play in US, could leave Barcelona for free originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington Lionel Messi said he "has always had the dream" of playing in the United States in a 90-minute interview with Spanish journalist Jordi Evolve broadcasted on Telemundo on Sunday. “I've always had the dream of playing in another league, in the United States," Messi said. "Maybe it will happen, it doesn't have to be right away. Today I am just focused on these next six months.” Messi had a public fallout with Barcelona this past summer, even requesting to leave but former president Josep Bartomeu refused. Messi was consistent with what he's said since deciding to stay in Barcelona this season, saying he didn't want to take the club to court even if multiple lawyers told him he would've won. Instead, Messi can now negotiate a free transfer once the January transfer window opens up, as the 33-year-old is in the last year of his contract and is free to negotiate terms with other clubs in the final six months of his deal if he doesn't sign a contract extension with Barcelona before then. Messi has won the Ballon d'Or awarded to the best player on the planet a record six times and tied Pele's record for the most goals scored with a single club with his 647th last week. Widely regarded as one of the best players of all time, the Argentine would immediately raise the profile of Major League Soccer to new heights. D.C. United has really only ever acquired one mega-star in Wayne Rooney, and isn't considered one of the favorites to land the generational talent should he decide to play in the MLS one day. Teams with bigger budgets like the LA Galaxy, where Messi could go Hollywood and steal the nation's soccer spotlight, or even David Beckham's Inter Miami, where he could join up with fellow Argentine Gonzalo Higuain. Because Messi's exuberant wages go far beyond those of typical "designated players" in MLS, the league could offer Messi what they gave Beckham -- a discounted rate at owning an expansion club. Messi's unsettled sentiments expressed after crashing out of the Champions League at the end of last season has only carried on to this season, as he admitted “Barca is a great club that is not today in the place where it should be.” Barcelona are in fifth place and have dropped 15 piotns through 14 La Liga games, their worst start to a season since Messi's debut season in 2007. Even so, Messi has started 17 of Barcelona's 20 games across all competitions despite a quick turnaround offseason and leads the team in scoring with 10 goals. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Manchester City hopes of signing Lionel Messi dealt blow as Argentine says he is excited about future at Barcelona

Lionel Messi appears to have given Barcelona some encouragement he could stay at the club after admitting he was feeling “excited” about the future after what has been a tough year. The Argentina forward wanted to quit Barcelona last summer after a breakdown in relations with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu only to agree to stay rather than drag the club into a legal fight to force his departure. Messi’s future remains uncertain and Manchester City - who face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night - have been watching developments with interest amid hope of signing the 33-year-old next summer when his contract expires. He will be free to talk to foreign suitors next month, with City the favourites to sign him if he did leave the Nou Camp. But Messi insists his dispute with Barcelona - which he says impacted his form this season - is behind him and that he is focused on helping the club “through a difficult time”. “Right now I’m feeling good and looking forward to fighting for every competition we have ahead,” he said in an interview with Spanish TV channel La Sexta. “I know the club is in a difficult moment at institutional level and on the pitch and everything surrounding Barça right now is difficult, but I’m feeling excited.” Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barcelona in a 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday to equal Pele’s goals record for a single club but has struggled for form this season, as have his side, who trail La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid by eight points. He has nine goals in all competitions this term, five of which have been penalties, and has yet to claim an assist in 13 league games, with the player admitting last summer’s troubles have taken their toll on his form. “Everything that happened before the summer, how the season ended, then the burofax and everything else … I dragged everything into the start of the season a bit,” Messi said. “The truth is right now I’m feeling fine but in the summer I had a very bad time.” Barcelona have elections on January 24 to determine the successor to Bartomeu, who resigned in October, and have been battling financial issues off the pitch. But they are still hoping to strength the team next month, despite those battles, and Eric Garcia’s Manchester City team-mates believe he is heading to Barcelona. Barcelona tried to sign the Spain central defender during the summer transfer window only for a deal to collapse on deadline day after they failed to meet City’s €20 million (£18.3m) pricetag. Pep Guardiola, the City manager, wanted to keep Garcia but the 19-year-old has his heart set on a return to Barcelona and is hoping a deal can finally be struck between the clubs next month. Garcia - who is out of contract at the end of the season - joined City from Barcelona in 2017. Garcia’s determination to join Barcelona is widely accepted in the City dressing room and there is a firm expectation he will return to Spain, even though the club have a series of financial concerns. Barcelona have been looking to offload players to help facilitate a deal. Last month, Barcelona’s players agreed to wage cuts that would save the club €122 million. They also agreed with their players to have about £45m of variable payments deferred over a three-year period. Barcelona’s accounts for 2019/20, published in October, revealed that the club’s net debt had more than doubled to €488 million as they felt the sharp impact of the Covid-19 crisis. Despite his desire to leave, City have had no problems with Garcia and Guardiola continued to select him until a recent injury. The teenager was forced off after 28 minutes of the 3-0 Champions League win over Marseille on December 9 and ruled out for up to three weeks. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Mohamed Salah dropped by Liverpool after revealing 'disappointment' at captaincy decision and hinting at Spain move

Mohamed Salah was omitted from Liverpool’s starting lineup against Crystal Palace, hours after giving an interview in which he admitted he was "disappointed" to be overlooked as the club's stand-in captain and hinted that he could entertain a move to Spain. Salah scored twice as a second-half substitute in Liverpool’s sensational 7-0 thrashing of Palace at Selhurst Park, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying the forward was being rested. Klopp added that he had “nothing to say” about Salah’s interview. In the piece with Spanish publication AS, the Egyptian international said he thought he would be handed the role for the Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland after Jordan Henderson started on the bench, and with vice-captains James Milner and Virgil Van Dijk unavailable due to injury. But Klopp opted to reward youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold with the temporary leadership role, a position the academy graduate is expected to absorb full-time later in his career. Salah said he was not happy with the decision. “Honestly, I was very disappointed,” he told AS. “I was expecting to be the captain. But it's a manager's decision, so I accept it.” The timing of the remarks, and the fact that they could be construed as disrespectful to Alexander-Arnold, is certain to cause consternation at Anfield. It also prompted speculation that Salah’s omission from the team against Palace was a form of punishment. Asked after the game about the decision to leave Salah on the bench, Klopp said: “It is the first time for a while we had the opportunity to do something like this. We played Sunday and Wednesday so we needed fresh legs today. “Mo missed only seven minutes from the last four games. It is a massively intense period, so it was clear it would be him. Bringing him in for the last half an hour, I thought it was a good idea.” When he was pressed on Salah’s comments in the interview, Klopp replied: “Nothing to say from my side about that. All fine.” The fact that the interview appeared in one of Spain's biggest-selling publications will only add to the suspicion that Salah's representatives could be laying the groundwork for a transfer. Asked if he has ambitions to move to one of the La Liga clubs, Salah told AS: “I think Madrid and Barcelona are top clubs. We never know what is going to happen in the future, but right now I'm focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League again with my club.” Salah signed a new five-year contract in 2018, but when asked how long he will stay at Anfield, he replied: “That's a tough one, but right now I can say that everything is in the club's hands. Of course I want to break records here and, I repeat, every record in the club, but everything's in the hands of the club.” Liverpool have never offered any hint of wanting to sell one of the modern legends who helped them win the Champions League and Premier League. Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have formed what is widely considered the most effective front three in Europe over the past years, each of them rewarded with new deals during that time. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Messi saves lacklustre Barca, Sociedad reclaim top spot

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Lionel Messi saved Barcelona from another embarrassing result by scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over lowly Levante, while Real Sociedad returned top of La Liga on Sunday. Messi struck with 14 minutes remaining of a lacklustre display from Barca at the Camp Nou which will do little to ease fan fears following their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Juventus midweek. Ronald Koeman's side are still way off the pace in the title race, nine points behind Sociedad who reclaimed first place despite only drawing 1-1 with Eibar. Barcelona do however have two games in hand on the Basque outfit. Atletico are level on 26 points with Sociedad and also have two games in hand while Real Madrid are now just three points behind the leaders having played one less after beating their local rivals 2-0 on Saturday. Villarreal are four points off the lead in fourth after drawing 1-1 at Real Betis, who are one point behind Barca in ninth. "The team is working well, they gave the maximum," said Koeman. "We still lack a little confidence in ourselves, in our game, but we had a lot of chances, and I have nothing to say about the attitude of the players in this match." Barca managed to force several saves from Aitor Fernandez, with the Levante goalkeeper doing particularly well to push away a stinging shot from Martin Braithwaite in the 16th minute and Antoine Griezmann's header five minutes later. However the best chance of the opening period fell to Jorge de Frutos in the 12th minute, the Spaniard somehow shooting straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen after the ball broke kindly for him right in front of goal. - Messi saves day - Barca continued to dominate possession in the second half but if anything looked less threatening, with Fernandez being called into action largely for shots that were hit straight at him. However with Levante looking more comfortable than a side of their level should at the Camp Nou, Messi saved his team with a clinical finish off the post after collecting Frenkie de Jong's pass. It was hardly the sort of display to honour Sergio Busquets' 593rd appearance for the club, which takes him level at fourth of all time for matches played for Barca alongside Carles Puyol. However the three points are a boost ahead of the visit of Sociedad on Wednesday, which is then followed up by another home clash with Valencia on Saturday. Earlier Ander Barrenetxea gave Real Sociedad the lead in San Sebastian with a thumping strike in the 20th minute, but Sergi Enrich turned home with 25 minutes remaining to send his team 10th on 15 points. Sociedad would have had a bigger gap between them and Atletico had Igor Zubeldia's 80th-minute tap-in not been ruled out by VAR for an extremely tight offside. Sunday's draw was Sociedad's sixth in as many games in all competitions, and came after another 1-1 draw at Napoli on Thursday which saw them squeeze into the last 32 of the Europa League. Granada won 1-0 at Elche in Sunday's other match, a win that keeps them one point ahead of Barcelona. Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Lionel Messi asked by Diego Maradona’s son to retire No 10 shirt in tribute to Argentine legend

Lionel Messi has been urged by Diego Maradona’s son to give up his No 10 shirt at Barcelona as a tribute to the Argentine legend. The 1986 World Cup winner died last week after a cardiac arrest, with the football world mourning the loss of one of the greatest players of all time. A host of tributes have followed since Maradona’s passing, including former club Napoli naming their stadium the Diego Armanda Maradona San Paolo. While Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas urged Fifa to retire the No 10 jersey throughout the game, and now Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra has echoed those views by publicly calling on Messi and Barcelona to retire the number in honour of his father. “In the teams where he played, I think so, including Barça. I have no doubt,” Maradona’s son told Mundo Deportivo when it was suggested to him that the No 10 jersey could be retired at all of his father’s former clubs and by the Albiceleste. The No 10 shirt has become synonymous throughout not only Argentine football but the world due to the style of play Maradona displayed. Messi has inherited the number and is now routinely discussed in the same breath as Maradona following his own legendary career. Messi displayed Maradona’s old Newell’s Old Boys jersey when he celebrated scoring against Getafe last weekend. A tribute Maradona Jr admits “moved” him a lot following several emotional days. “It moved me a lot," added Maradona’s son. “They have been very emotional days. Leo’s [tribute] was special, very nice. "It got to me a lot, it made me cry. Also that of Napoli; the celebration of Gimnasia; what happened in Boca, where [Maradona’s daughter] Dalma was... They were strong emotions.” Football stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Barcelona rests Messi, De Jong in Champions League match

MADRID (AP) -- The Champions League has been Barcelona's safe haven this season, so much so that the club will leave Lionel Messi at home for Tuesday's match in Ukraine. Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is resting Messi and midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the game against Dynamo Kyiv, when the Catalan club can secure a spot in the knockout stage for the 17th straight season. ''Neither Leo nor Frenkie are traveling,'' Koeman said Monday. ''They need some rest. With nine points in our group, we are in a comfortable situation and we have to keep them fresh.'' Messi has played in every match so far this season after having his request to leave the club denied in the offseason. De Jong had also played in every match, and both also spent time with their national teams. ''In Leo's case you also have trips to South America (to play with Argentina),'' Koeman said. ''We have to protect our players. It's impossible for them to play every match and always be at their best. Everyone knows that, but we have to keep playing several matches. FIFA and UEFA should take action because it's impossible to be playing all these matches.'' Barcelona's perfect campaign in the Champions League has been the only good thing for the club recently. It doesn't have a president in charge, it is dealing with financial difficulties, several of its players are injured and it has struggled in the Spanish league. Barcelona is coming off a loss to Atletico Madrid that left the team in 13th place in the Spanish league after eight matches. ''We can't be happy with our results, but we need to stay motivated,'' Koeman said. ''We have another match tomorrow (Tuesday) and we are one step away from advancing, so we have to take advantage of this opportunity.'' The club is being led by a managing committee since former president Josep Bartomeu and his board of directors resigned after the fallout from the Messi crisis. The club also has been in the middle of difficult negotiations with players to adjust their salaries amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the match against Atletico, Barcelona also lost two players because of injuries - Sergi Roberto with a muscle injury and Gerard Pique with a serious knee injury. ''(Pique) represents a significant absence,'' Koeman said. ''He has been here for several years and has great personality. It's sad for the team and for the club. It's tough, but we have to accept it and try to solve the problem.'' Koeman said he may use a player from the ''B'' team to make up for the shortage in central defenders. He could use 21-year-old Oscar Mingueza to play alongside Clement Lenglet, as Ronald Araujo is returning from an injury. De Jong has played as a central defender and is an option for Koeman in future matches. ''We can't take any risks because we have very few central defenders,'' he said. Lenglet said he would be willing to play on the right side if needed. ''It's not my usual position, it's a bit different, but I can do it to try to help the club,'' he said. Barcelona has won its Champions League group every time since 2007-08, and it hasn't lost a group match since the 2016-17 season. Dynamo Kyiv is making its first group appearance since that 2016-17 season. With three victories from three matches, Barcelona leads Group G ahead of Juventus and has an eight-point advantage over both Dynamo Kyiv and Hungarian club Ferencvaros. Juventus has six points. All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Miss-and-hit Ibrahimovic grabs point for AC Milan as Juve, Inter also held

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a penalty before scoring a late equaliser as Serie A leaders AC Milan salvaged a point in a 2-2 Serie A draw against Hellas Verona on Sunday to let rivals Juventus and Inter Milan off the hook after both were held 1-1 in earlier games. "I'll let Franck Kessie take the next one, that would be better," said Ibrahimovic, who has now missed four of the last six penalties he has taken for AC Milan. Stefano Pioli's side are top of Serie A with a two-point advantage on second-placed Sassuolo, who were held to a goalless draw against Udinese on Friday. Champions Juventus drop to fifth, four points behind the leaders after Lazio's Felipe Caicedo scored five minutes into injury time to cancel out Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half goal. Inter Milan and Atalanta also shared the spoils in Bergamo after Aleksey Miranchuk scored on his first Serie A start for the hosts to cancel out Lautaro Martinez's header. Milan had the chance to pull four points clear at the top of the table in the final match before the international break. But the leaders were two goals down in the San Siro after Antonin Barak opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Milan defender Davide Calabria bundled into his own goal quarter of an hour later. Ibrahimovic had a chance for the equaliser after 66 minutes, after Verona defender Giangiacomo Magnani's own goal had reduced the deficit for the hosts. But the 39-year-old embarrassingly fired over the crossbar before redeeming himself deep into injury time by heading in his eighth league goal this season. "With so many matches you are not always 100 percent," said the veteran Swedish striker. "It was important not to lose. Thank goodness there is a break now, so I rest a little." Milan avoided a first league defeat after their 24-match unbeaten run was ended with a Europa League loss to Lille during the week. Napoli move third after a Victor Osimhen header sealed a 1-0 win over Bologna. Roma are equal on points with Napoli, both one point ahead of Juventus, after a Henrikh Mkhitaryan hat-trick delivered a 3-1 win at Genoa. - Ronaldo 'crucial' for Juve - Earlier Juventus once again demonstrated how dependent they are on Portuguese star Ronaldo, letting three points slip after he limped off with an ankle injury with 15 minutes to go. "Ronaldo is a crucial player," said Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo. The 35-year-old had scored his sixth goal in four games and had further chances for a second, rattling the post before Pepe Reina tipped a free-kick over the bar. Caicedo, who came on early in the second half, once again had the final word. He picked up a Correa cross and swivelled to fire in the equaliser as Juventus drew for the fourth time in seven league games. Caicedo also scored in the midweek 1-1 Champions League draw at Zenit Saint-Petersburg and the winner in last weekend's 4-3 victory at Torino. "We played like Juventus for 93 minutes and 45 seconds, but then we conceded a goal because we eased off," said defender Leonardo Bonucci who played his 400th game for Juventus. Simone Inzaghi's Lazio, embroiled in coronavirus chaos with star striker Ciro Immobile back in isolation after playing last weekend, are ninth, six points off the leaders. "This team has heart, difficulties are part of our DNA," said Inzaghi. The Roman club are being investigated by the Italian football federation for possible Covid violations after UEFA blocked some players from Champions League games at Club Brugge and Zenit after testing positive. - Inter lack 'killer instinct' - Both Inter and Atalanta missed the chance to close the gap on the leaders days after Champions League defeats to Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively. Former Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Miranchuk came off the bench just before the hour and scored 19 minutes later in his first game for the home side. Romelu Lukaku returned from a thigh strain, playing the final quarter of an hour, but could not find a winner for Inter. "We're lacking a bit of the killer instinct to take home games," said coach Antonio Conte, whose side are seventh just behind Atalanta. All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com .

Zero positives out of 346 NBA players tested in Orlando bubble

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association said Monday that coronavirus tests of 346 players at the league's bubble campus in Orlando, Florida, since July 13 have yielded zero positive result, according to iSports basketball API.

When the league announced its initial batch of tests in the bubble on July 13, it said that two of 322 players tested came back positive.

Also Monday, the NBA announced the rosters for all 22 teams participating in the season's resumption at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, part of the Walt Disney World Resort.

As per iSports data, NBA games are set to resume July 30 after being halted in mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Each of the teams participating in the restart will play three intersquad scrimmages from July 22 to July 28.

All basketball stat collect from isports API, for more details please visit www.isportsapi.com.

Manchester United prepare to announce three signings for the future

Manchester United hope to confirm the additions of three teenagers from abroad.

According to the iSports football API, the Red Devils are hopeful of signing Marc Jurado, Alvaro Fernandez and Isak Hansen-Aaroen.

United have already confirmed the signing of Joe Hugill from Sunderland and Radek Vitek from Sigma Olomouc.

The report claims United are waiting on international clearance for Jurado, Fernandez and Hansen-Aaroen. The latter became Tromso’s youngest-ever player at the age of 15 years and 319 days earlier this month, as per iSports football API.

A source told: “Hopefully they’ll be sorted soon and we can get them confirmed.”

Although we have yet to see any first-team additions, I find it encouraging that United are signing youngsters from Spain’s two giants (Barcelona & Real Madrid, as well as them being players who were recently offered new deals to stay put. That means they decided to move on and join United.

These are talented boys who are coming to Manchester to further develop their careers. With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel they can see a route into the first-team, and the club is very much built on believing in young players.

You never know which youngster will be next to break into the first team. For instance, we didn’t know much about Brandon Williams before his emergence this season.

All football stat collect from isports API, for more details, please visit www.isportsapi.com.

Southampton finalise 8-figure signing after agreeing £35K-a-week deal

Southampton have agreed the signing of Mohammed Salisu from Real Valladolid after finalising personal terms, Football Insider can reveal.

The Premier League club will pay the £10.9m (€12m) release clause in the Ghanian centre-back’s contract， according to iSports API football data.

A Southampton contract has told Football Insider the club have also agreed a long-term deal with Salisu worth £35,000-a-year.

He is expected to join the club in the coming days although he cannot be formally registered until a work permit is obtained.

Salisu is a left-footed centre-back who stands at 6ft 3ins and has been a mainstay of the Valladolid team this season.

As per iSports football API, he started 30 of their 38 La Liga matches after graduating from their B team.

French club Rennes had been the main competition for the Ghanaian defender but Salisu made it clear he wants to play in the Premier League with Southampton.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has prioritised strengthening his side’s central defence this summer.

Southampton have carved out some impressive results either side of the lockdown and climbed to 11th in the Premier League table following their 2-0 win over Bournemouth yesterday.

But Hasenhuttl’s side have conceded 59 goals in their 37 league matches, and have moved to rectify that ahead of the official opening of the window next week.

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Man City 'close' to signing Bournemouth's Nathan Ake

Manchester City are close to agreeing a deal for Bournemouth centre-back Nathan Aké.

As per iSports football API, the 25-year-old is expected to becoming Pep Guardiola’s first signing of the summer transfer window, according to The Guardian.

Guardiola is believed to be keen on strengthening his defence after a poor showing this season, and has been linked with a move for Aké repeatedly in the past.

The report states that City will pay a fee in the region of £35m for the former Chelsea defender.

Bournemouth’s relegation to the Championship was all but sealed following the 2-0 defeat to Southampton on Sunday, and will now find it almost impossible to keep hold of the Dutch international, according to iSports API football data.

Aké arrived at the Vitality Stadium for £20m in 2017 and has made 121 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side.

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Barcelona offer Coutinho in swap deal for Guendouzi

FC Barcelona are offering Philippe Coutinho in a swap deal for Matteo Guendouzi, with both club hierarchies seemingly keen on the idea.

French outlet Foot Mercato claim Barcelona are discussing a swap deal with Arsenal between Philippe Coutinho and Matteo Guendouzi. The two clubs are talking about the deal ‘in a concrete way’, according to the report from iSports football API.

Coutinho is keen on a return to England, whilst Guendouzi is an outcast in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. A mixture of off-field behavioural problems, the on-field incident with Neal Maupay and his inability to make amends leave him out of the squad completely.

Edu Gaspar is reportedly a big fan of Coutinho, and Arsenal established contact with his advisers over a move many months ago. Meanwhile, the Barcelona hierarchy are long-term admirers of Guendouzi, so it seems like a decent match.

Guendouzi himself is still unsure of his next step, and he’s prioritising the ‘sporting project’ of any potential new club.

Some Arsenal fans have already shown hesitance to the deal as well. The idea of losing a young talent for a player entering his prime may have short-term benefits, but it could also look like bad business a few years down the line.

According to iSports football API, Coutinho scored nine goals and assisted eight in 34 games this season. That’s certainly a big upgrade on any current Arsenal midfielder’s output. We know he can produce those kinds of numbers in the Premier League too.

For now, it’s just a rumour. Most of the recent reports lean more towards a loan move for Coutinho, if Arsenal even hold an interest at all. But it’s an interesting one to consider.

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Tammy Abraham has put contract talks with Chelsea on hold

Transfer expert Ian McGarry has claimed that Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has put contract talks on hold, until he gets a clarity on his situation from manager Frank Lampard.

Abraham, a product of the Chelsea youth academy, has had to wait for long to break into the first-team. As per iSports football API, after several loan spells away at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa, the Englishman got his big break in 2019/20.

And he grasped it with both hands, establishing himself as the club’s lead striker in the first half of the season. However, injuries and dip in form since the turn of the year have seen Abraham lose his starting spot to Olivier Giroud.



With the Frenchman signing a new one-year contract and Chelsea also recruiting Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, Abraham now finds himself questioning his standing at the club. And, as a result, he has put contract talks on hold, claims McGarry.

Although Abraham activated an extra year on his current five-year deal owing to appearances and goals scored recently, this is certainly an interesting development, as per iSports API football data.

Given Giroud’s current form, he deserves to be in the starting XI. And when Werner arrives, he is going to assume the first-choice role. So, how Lampard handes the Abraham situation remains to be seen.

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Watford sack Nigel Pearson with only two PL games remaining

Watford have taken the remarkable decision to sack Nigel Pearson with just two games of the Premier League season to go, as per iSports API football data.

A statement from the Vicarage Road club said: “Watford FC confirms that Nigel Pearson has left the club with immediate effect.

“Hayden Mullins, with Graham Stack as his assistant, will take up the position of interim head coach for the Hornets’ final two Premier League fixtures of the 2019/20 season.”

Pearson replaced Quique Sanchez Flores in December – who had in turn replaced Javi Gracia a few months earlier – and had revived their season after a dreadful start.

But now, with the club three points above the relegation zone with a pair of games remaining, the board have parted ways with Pearson.

According to iSports football API, the former Leicester manager’s last game in charge was Friday’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham.

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AS Monaco appoint Niko Kovac as their new head coach

AS Monaco have confirmed the appointment of Niko Kovac as their new head coach on a three-year contract with the option for a possible extension.

According to iSports API football data, one of Monaco’s prime concerns last term was their poor defensive record and they conceded the joint-fourth most goals (44) during the course of the league season.

That is something which the club will have to improve upon, if they are to make the push for the European places and most particularly, for the top three positions which offer a route to the Champions League.

The Croatian, who was previously with Bayern Munich, has taken over the hot seat from Robert Moreno, who was dismissed from the managerial role shortly after Monaco’s 2-0 win over Cercle Brugge in a pre-season friendly.

The Principality outfit have been unable to compete against Ligue 1’s best over the past two seasons and they finished a lowly ninth during the 2019/2020 campaign which was curtailed after 28 games because of the coronavirus outbreak, as per iSports football API.

“AS Monaco are pleased to announce the arrival of Niko Kovac as head coach. The Croatian has signed on a 3 year contract with an option to extend,” a statement on the club’s official website read.

Monaco have already started their preparations ahead of the new league season and Kovac has around a month’s time before the club’s opening clash against Reims at home.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sets new post-Ferguson record

Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace this evening extended the side’s unbeaten run to 19 games.

It is a significant run, not just because of the timing, as the Red Devils push to win a top four place in the Premier League, but also because it is the longest unbeaten run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired seven years ago.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure as United manager has seen a number of good runs and bad runs, but the team seems to have finally found consistency since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in the January transfer window.

According to iSports football API, the Norwegian has some catching up to do to match Sir Alex’s best, though, as he led the side to two 29 game unbeaten runs, once in the treble winning season of 1999 and the other in 2010-11.

United won the Premiership on that occasion as well, with Dimitar Berbatov ending the season as the league’s top scorer along with former Red, Carlos Tevez, who was playing for Manchester City. Both scored 20 goals, as per iSports API football data.

Solskjaer’s new record came as a result of incredible forward play from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial and some steely defending, in particular from Harry Maguire and David de Gea.

It was not a performance for the connoisseur but United ground out a win when it mattered, something they have also not always been able to do since Sir Alex retired.

United will hope to extend the run to 20 on Sunday when they face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.

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