World Soccer Talk: August 2020

Monday 31 August 2020

Unfit, poor diet: Arnautovic ‘underestimated’ Chinese football

Shanghai (AFP) – Marko Arnautovic says he underestimated the Chinese Super League after joining last year from West Ham United, admitting “I didn’t look after my body” and gorged on fizzy drinks.

The Austrian forward signed for Shanghai SIPG for a reported 25 million euros and despite scoring nine goals in 15 games, came in for criticism in some quarters.

“I underestimated it, I was not fit enough, I didn’t prepare myself as I should,” the 31-year-old said.

“I didn’t train, I didn’t look after my body, I was eating, I was drinking fizzy drinks — Sprite, Coca-Cola, Fanta — all these sugar drinks that are not good for the body.

“Eating at wrong times. Not sleeping because when I came to China it took me about three weeks until I could adapt to the time.

“I went to bed at 6, 7 o’clock in the morning. I woke up 3, 4 o’clock in the afternoon, went to training, stayed up again all night, eating at wrong times.”

Arnautovic, who joined SIPG in July last year, has made a fast start to the coronavirus-delayed new season.

Playing alongside former Chelsea star Oscar and the Brazilian forward Hulk, Arnautovic has scored five goals in eight CSL matches to help SIPG make an unbeaten start to the campaign.

He also laid on an assist for Oscar with a clever backheel in a recent 2-1 win over title rivals Beijing Guoan.

“I don’t need to hear from any media, or I don’t need to hear it from any fans, the criticism,” said Arnautovic, previously also of Stoke City and Inter Milan.

“I am my biggest critic so if I don’t do well I will tell myself, ‘You didn’t do well, you need to do better.'”

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Italian clubs covet Messi but seek cheaper options

Rome (AFP) – While some Serie A clubs are eyeing Lionel Messi longingly, their mantra as they prepare for the transfer window is “financial prudence”.

The notion of Messi resuming his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is appealing. And Italy offers possible tax advantages for Messi, who has had issues in that area in Spain.

The Italian media has fuelled the dreams of Serie A fans by reporting this summer that his father Jorge Messi had bought an apartment in Milan.

In recent seasons, even the top Serie A clubs have generally avoided competing in the transfer market with the wealthiest clubs in Spain, England and France and the coronavirus crisis has many clubs insisting they will be even more careful.

Italian clubs value experience and, at 35, Ronaldo, one of the few stars to arrive from abroad for a big fee in recent seasons, will remain the headliner at Juventus.

But the club have recognised that before they set off in pursuit of a 10th consecutive title they need to rejuvenate an ageing squad.

They have brought in 41-year-old Andrea Pirlo for his first head coaching job and acquired 24-year-old Brazilian Arthur from Barcelona in a deal which saw 30-year-old Miralem Pjanic go the other way, covering nearly all of the theoretical 72-million-euro ($86-million) fee.

Juventus are taking 22-year-old American Weston McKennie from Schalke on loan and allowing 33-year-old Frenchman Blaise Matuidi to leave for David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

They are reportedly trying to usher out 33-year-old Sami Khedira and 32-year-old Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain, whom Juve snatched from Napoli in 2016 for 90 million euros, reportedly wants a payoff to cover the final year of his contract before leaving.

Yet, proving that experience still counts for the Bianconeri, 34-year-old Roma centre-forward Edin Dzeko has reportedly been targeted to replace Higuain.

Also in the veteran category is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at almost 39, who has signed for another season with AC Milan.

Deprived of the Champions League since 2014, the club sees him as a mentor for a talented young generation which finished the season in style with a 12-match unbeaten streak in the league.

– ‘Not a mascot’ –

“I’m not here to be a mascot, but to help the club get back to where it deserves to be,” said Zlatan, who returned on Saturday to prepare for the new season, which starts on September 19.

The highly sought-after and talented 20-year-old Sandro Tonali of Brescia could be part of Milan’s rebuilding.

As for Inter, who chased Juve home last season, the aim is to strengthen the midfield, where Christian Eriksen, who arrived cheaply in January from Tottenham, has not so far been the answer.

Antonio Conte, a manager with a reputation for seeking players who can deliver at once, is reportedly looking for experience in midfield and Italian media have mentioned 33-year-old Chilean Arturo Vidal of Barcelona and 29-year-old N’Golo Kante of Chelsea.

Conte coached Vidal at Juventus and Kante at Chelsea. Inter have already added speedy 21-year-old Morocco international right-back Achraf Hakimi from Dortmund.

Both Atalanta and Lazio, third and fourth last season, are banking on continuity.

Lazio on Monday extended the contract of last season’s Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile, who is 30, until 2025.

In this generally cautious market, Napoli, desperate to return to the Champions League, have made the biggest splash, signing Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Lille for a fee of up to 80 million euros.

But that means Napoli must sell and they have agreed to allow Brazilian midfielder Allan to join Everton. Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly could soon follow to England.

Meanwhile, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who ran AC Milan during an era when Serie A attracted almost all the most expensive stars, is making waves at Serie B club Monza, acquiring Dane Christian Gytkjaer and Croatian international Mirko Maric, the top scorers in last season’s Polish and Croatian leagues.

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NBC Sports reveal Premier League TV schedule for September

With less than two weeks until kickoff of the 2020-21 Premier League season, NBC Sports today released its schedule for September, as NBCUniversal platforms will once again present live coverage of every Premier League match.

The opening weekend schedule kicks off Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN, as newly-promoted Fulham host Arsenal, who won their record-extending 14th FA Cup last month. Highlighting the season’s first day, Premier League champions Liverpool host Leeds United – back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years – at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

In addition, Peacock – NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – makes its debut as the exclusive home of 175 Premier League matches. Peacock Premium will live stream 12 matches in September, beginning with Crystal Palace-Southampton on Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m. ET. On Saturday, September 19, Peacock Premium features exclusive coverage of all morning Premier League action. All matchdays and windows exclusively on Peacock Premium will feature NBC Sports’ Premier League studio coverage.

The networks of NBCUniversal – NBC, NBCSN, and USA Network – and NBCUniversal’s new streaming service – Peacock – combine to present live coverage of all 28 September Premier League matches. Games feature pre- and post-match shows from the NBC Sports Group International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.

In addition, matches will be telecast in Spanish each week by Telemundo and Universo and will also be streamed on the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo app for mobile devices.

Premier League TV schedule for September

All kickoff times are listed in the Eastern United States time zone. Schedule is subject to change.

Saturday, September 12

Fulham vs. Arsenal, 7:30am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

West Ham vs. Newcastle, 10am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Crystal Palace vs. Southampton, 10am, Peacock Premium

Liverpool vs. Leeds United, 12:30pm, NBC, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Sunday, September 13

West Brom vs. Leicester, 9am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Spurs vs. Everton, 11:30am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Monday, September 14

Brighton vs. Chelsea, 3pm, Peacock Premium

Sheffield United vs. Wolves, 3pm, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Saturday, September 19

Everton vs. West Brom, 7:30am, Peacock Premium

Leeds vs. Fulham, 10am, Peacock Premium

Leicester vs. Burnley, 10am, Peacock Premium

Man United vs. Crystal Palace, 12:30pm, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Sunday, September 20

Southampton vs. Spurs, 7am, Peacock Premium

Arsenal vs. West Ham, 9am, Peacock Premium

Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United, 9am, Peacock Premium

Newcastle vs. Brighton, 9am, Peacock Premium

Chelsea vs. Liverpool, 11:30am, USA Network, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Monday, September 21

Wolves vs. Man City, 3pm, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Saturday, September 26

Brighton vs. Man United, 7:30am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Spurs vs. Newcastle, 10am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Burnley vs. Southampton, 10am, Peacock Premium

Crystal Palace vs. Everton, 10am, Peacock Premium

West Ham vs. Wolves, 10am, Peacock Premium

West Brom vs. Chelsea, 12:30pm, NBC, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Sunday, September 27

Sheffield United vs. Leeds, 7am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Fulham vs. Aston Villa, 9am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Man City vs. Leicester, 11:30am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

Monday, September 28

Liverpool vs. Arsenal, 3pm, NBCSN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Blue (free trial)

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Ibrahimovic extends AC Milan contract for 2020/21 season

Rome (AFP) – Veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a one-year contract extension with AC Milan, the Italian giants announced on Monday.

The former Swedish international, who turns 39 in October, rejoined Milan in January and will stay at the San Siro until the end of June 2021.

“Today (Monday), Zlatan Ibrahimovic rejoined his teammates and coach Stefano Pioli at Milanello Sports Center, where he took part in his first training session of the season,” the club said in a statement.

Ibrahimovic helped Pioli’s side bounce back from a poor first half of last season, scoring 11 goals in 20 games in all competitions to help fire the seven-time European champions to Europa League qualification.

The 38-year-old previously played for the Rossoneri from 2010-2012, scoring 56 goals and winning the 2011 Serie A title under Massimiliano Allegri.

Ibrahimovic has also played for Juventus and Inter Milan in Italy during his illustrious career and starred for Paris Saint-Germain in France and Manchester United in the Premier League.

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Michel Platini grilled by Swiss prosecutor in payment probe

Bern (Switzerland) (AFP) – Michel Platini was quizzed by a Swiss prosecutor on Monday in a probe investigating a two-million-Swiss-franc ($2.2-million) payment that the former European football chief received from FIFA in 2011.

Platini was summoned to Switzerland’s capital Bern by prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand. Sepp Blatter, the former president of the sport’s world governing body FIFA, is due to meet the prosecutor on Tuesday as part of the same proceedings.

Platini, the ex-head of European football’s governing body UEFA, was questioned for around three hours at the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

“The questions went very well for my client,” Platini’s lawyer Dominic Nellen told AFP after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors.

“He responded to all the questions that the OAG asked him and told how everything went down and what the truth is with the payment of the two million. We are awaiting the deposition of other witnesses in the coming days.

“There is nothing that we fear because they will tell the truth and the prosecutor can see for himself that there’s nothing illegal about that payment.”

Platini appeared in good spirits as he entered the complex housing the OAG.

– Further questions expected –

Platini and Blatter each face interrogation from the public prosecutor as part of the proceedings, which were opened in 2015.

In June, Hildbrand formally added Platini to an investigation into the payment he received from FIFA in 2011 for an advisory job completed in 2002, on suspicion of “complicity in unfair management, embezzlement and forgery in securities”.

Platini said at the time that the OAG had “confirmed in writing in May 2018” that his case was closed.

The 65-year-old former French football great now has the status of “accused” alongside Blatter.

Platini has been questioned once before by Swiss prosecutors but Monday was the first time he was grilled as an accused person, his lawyer said.

Nellen said he expected a further meeting with Hildbrand, at which the former UEFA chief will face further questions.

Two other former FIFA executives, Frenchman Jerome Valcke, the former secretary-general, and German Markus Kattner, the former financial director, are being investigated on “suspicion of unfair management”, the OAG has said.

Kattner will be questioned on September 4.

– ‘Back pay’: Blatter –

Platini, who was UEFA president from January 2007 to December 2015, has claimed he is being persecuted by FIFA.

“After five years, it is quite possible that FIFA will continue to harass me through complaints with the sole aim of keeping me out of football and smearing my reputation,” he said in June.

Blatter, who is 84, told AFP the payment was above board.

“It was a back pay for work done by Michel Platini. The sum was validated by the finance commission. It cannot be a criminal offence,” Blatter said, adding that he was “serene” ahead of the new hearing.

FIFA deemed the sum a “disloyal payment” and suspended Blatter and Platini from all football-related activities, which prevented the former UEFA chief from running for the FIFA presidency in 2016.

Platini appealed against his initial eight-year suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced it to four years, then the Swiss Federal Court and finally at the European Court of Human Rights.

Hildbrand questioned Blatter in late July and early August in connection with a separate investigation into television rights contracts issued to the Caribbean Football Union.

Platini is regarded among world football’s greatest-ever players. He won the Ballon d’Or, considered the most prestigious individual award, three times — in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Only Lionel Messi (six) and Cristiano Ronaldo (five) have won more Ballons d’Or than Platini.

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David Silva tests positive for coronavirus

Madrid (AFP) – Former Manchester City midfielder David Silva has tested positive for coronavirus, his new club Real Sociedad announced on Monday.

The 34-year-old joined La Real on a free transfer earlier this month but returned a positive Covid-19 test after arriving to San Sebastian.

The Liga club said it was Silva’s second test within 72 hours since landing in Spain, having previously tested negative.

The Spaniard, a former World Cup and European Championship winner, left Man City at the end of his contract before signing a two-year deal with Sociedad.

He is self-isolating and is displaying no symptoms, the club said.

Silva’s new teammate Mikel Oyarzabal has also contracted the virus and was replaced in Luis Enrique’s Spain squad by Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno.

Spain face Germany in their Nations League opener in Stuttgart on Thursday, before hosting Ukraine three days later.

The 2020/21 La Liga campaign gets underway on September 12.

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Fans set for return in German Cup first round

Berlin (AFP) – Fans can return to some German football stadiums in mid-September for the first round of the German Cup, the country’s football federation (DFB) announced on Monday.

Matches in Germany have been played behind closed doors since the professional game restarted in May following the coronavirus lockdown.

“In the third division, the German Cup and women’s matches, the number of spectators… must be decided by each club in agreement with local health authorities,” the DFB said in a statement.

“This means that in some stadiums there may be fans, while in others, the home clubs may accommodate fewer, if any, spectators.”

The 2020/21 German Cup gets underway on September 11.

Away supporters will still not be allowed to attend any games.

Most clubs will not be able to accept more than 1,000 fans, although there are some exceptions, with Magdeburg having been given the green light to host 7,500.

The DFB itself wanted 500 fans to attend Germany’s Nations League match against Spain in Stuttgart on Thursday, but that request was refused by local authorities.

The top divisions, which are run by the German league (DFL) and not the DFB, could possibly see fans return on September 18 within the framework of health protocols proposed by the DFL.

But the Bundesliga is still expected to start its new season behind closed doors.

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Marseille add Japanese veteran Nagatomo

Marseille (AFP) – Marseille on Monday completed the signing of Japanese international left-back Yuto Nagatomo on a free transfer from Galatasaray.

The 33-year-old is Marseille’s third signing of the transfer window and comes in as understudy to Jordan Amavi.

“Nagatomo is an Olympian,” OM announced in a video it posted on social media, listing the player’s strengths on a fake collectable card as “fierce warrior” and “thunder speed”.

Coach Andre Villas-Boas had indicated on Sunday that the player would sign once he completed a medical.

“He has this experience as captain, dressing room leader, he speaks several languages,” Villas-Boas said.

Nagatomo played seven seasons at Inter Milan (2011-2018). He has 122 Japan caps, winning the Asian Cup in 2011 and appearing at three World Cups.

Nagatomo becomes the third Japanese to wear the OM jersey after Koji Nakata (2005-2006) and Hiroki Sakai who has been at the club since 2016.

OM have already signed two 21-year-olds, French midfielder Pape Gueye from Watford and Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Borussia Dortmund.

Villas-Boas said that signing Nagatomo on a free transfer meant Marseille had some money left to make “an effort” to sign a striker.

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Messi misses first pre-season training session as Barcelona stand-off continues

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi boycotted Barcelona’s first pre-season training session on Monday, club sources have confirmed to AFP, as the striker upped the stakes in his battle to leave this summer.

After skipping coronavirus tests on Sunday, Messi was absent again from the Ciutat Esportiva, where Ronald Koeman held a session at 5.30pm, his first since being appointed Barca coach.

It appears increasingly likely Messi will try to force a transfer by refusing to play in La Liga next season, which begins on September 12.

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Grealish earns first England call-up as Rashford, Winks withdraw

London (AFP) – Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was called up to the England squad for the first time on Monday after Marcus Rashford and Harry Winks withdrew from the Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.

Villa captain Grealish was a surprise absence from Gareth Southgate’s initial squad for the Nations League matches after his impressive form helped his club avoid relegation from the Premier League last season.

But the withdrawals of Manchester United forward Rashford and Tottenham midfielder Winks created a vacancy the 24-year-old will fill.

Grealish, recently linked with a move to Manchester United, has previously represented England at Under-21 level and was a member of Southgate’s Toulon youth tournament-winning squad in 2016.

Southgate had already added Wolves defender Conor Coady and Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles to his squad on Saturday after dropping Manchester United captain Harry Maguire following the guilty verdict over in his Greek court case.

Maguire, who had pleaded not guilty, is appealing after being handed a suspended prison sentence after the street brawl.

Rashford has been nursing an ankle problem suffered towards the end of last season and he tweeted: “Gutted. Never want to let this team down but these fixtures just came a little too soon for me.

“I tried my best but I have to focus on starting the season at my strongest for club and country. Good luck boys, I’ll be cheering you on from home.”

England’s players met up at their St George’s Park training camp on Monday ahead of the clash with Iceland in Reykjavik on September 5 and the trip to face Denmark in Copenhagen three days later.

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African leagues: Esperance retain Tunisian title

Johannesburg (AFP) – Four-time African champions Esperance won a fourth straight Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title at the weekend despite only drawing 1-1 at home to mid-table Chebba.

The ‘Blood and Gold’ are nine points ahead of closest rivals CS Sfaxien with three rounds remaining and clinched first place on head-to-head records.

Esperance secured four points from two matches against Sfaxien this season by winning 2-0 away and drawing 0-0 at home.

Meanwhile, runaway leaders Al Ahly won 2-0 at lowly Al Masry 2-0 to stay on course for a record-extending 42nd Egyptian Premier League title.

In South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs clung to first place despite a 1-0 defeat by Bidvest Wits because closest challengers Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Baroka.

TUNISIA

Esperance had to come from behind to collect the title-clinching point with Algerian Abdelkader Bedrane cancelling the lead Abdessalam Jilani gave Chebba.

The result maintained the unbeaten record this season of the 30-time Tunisian champions, who have won 16 matches and drawn seven with a 38-11 goal record.

Success sealed a place in the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League for Esperance and Sfaxien hold a five-point advantage in the race to be the other Tunisian representatives.

Sfaxien edged nine-time African title winners Etoile Sahel 2-1 with one of their goals coming from Nigerian Kingsley Sokari.

EGYPT

Senegalese Aliou Badji and Hamdy Fathy scored early second-half goals to give Ahly victory over Masry and retention of a 17-point lead in the Egyptian Premier League.

Pyramids and Zamalek are separated only by goal difference in the contest for second place and a Champions League place.

Mohamed el Gabbas netted in the second minute of stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 victory for the Emirati-bankrolled Pyramids over Aswan.

Mohamed Hamdy struck midway through the second half for five-time African champions Zamalek in a 1-0 home win over ENPPI.

SOUTH AFRICA

Chiefs play bottom-half clubs Chippa United and Baroka in the South African Absa Premiership this week knowing two victories should end a five-year wait for silverware.

Defending champions Sundowns can match the 59-point target of Chiefs by beating strugglers Polokwane City and Black Leopards, but have an inferior goal difference.

In South Africa, goals difference is the first tie-breaker, followed by goals scored, and Chiefs have distinct advantages in both cases.

Soweto-based Chiefs have won a record 53 domestic titles since being formed in 1970, but none since finishing first in the Premiership five seasons ago.

MOROCCO

A resurgence of the coronavirus in the kingdom has played havoc with the Moroccan Botola Pro 1 schedule and only two of the seven weekend fixtures went ahead.

Clubs unable to play because of positive Covid-19 cases included the main challengers for the title, fierce Casablanca rivals Raja and Wydad, and Renaissance Berkane.

Table-toppers Raja have 45 points and a four-point advantage as they seek to become champions for the first time since 2013.

Wydad are five points adrift, but have a game in hand as they chase a fourth Botola title in six seasons, and Berkane are also on 40 points.

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Immobile commits to Lazio ‘for life’

Rome (AFP) – Ciro Immobile, who won the Golden Shoe as top scorer in Europe’s top divisions last season, has extended his contract with Lazio until 2025, the club said on Monday.

Immobile, who is 30, had the best league scoring season of his career, hitting 36 goals, 14 of them penalties, to lift Lazio to fourth place in Serie A.

“With this choice, Immobile has opted for Lazio for life,” said Stefano De Martino, Lazio’s communications director on the club’s website.

Immobile had previously finished top scorer in Serie A in 2013-14 with Torino and 2017-18 with Lazio, when he tied for first with Mauro Icardi.

He was previously under contract until 2023.

For Immobile “it’s a professional, sentimental and family choice” said Lazio adding that they intends “to consolidate what was done last season before further improving the squad.”

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Tottenham to go to Bulgaria in Europa League, AC Milan face Shamrock Rovers

Paris (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur will face a trip to Bulgaria in the Europa League second qualifying round in September after being paired with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Monday’s draw.

The tie will be played on Thursday, September 17, five days after Jose Mourinho’s side kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Everton. They are due to play away at Southampton on Sunday, September 20.

Lokomotiv qualified for the Europa League by winning the Bulgarian Cup for the second year running. Spurs qualified by coming sixth in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers have been handed a glamour tie at home to seven-time former European champions AC Milan in Dublin.

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers have been drawn away at Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, the minnows who beat Celtic 1-0 at home in a Champions League qualifier in 2016 before losing the return in Glasgow.

After being knocked out of this season’s Champions League at home by Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round last week, Celtic will enter the Europa League in the third qualifying round, the draw for which takes place on Tuesday.

Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic mean that all qualifying ties are being played as one-off matches at the home of the first team drawn from the hat, rather than over two legs.

All European ties are going ahead behind closed doors.

The delayed 2019/20 Europa League was only completed on August 21, with Sevilla beating Inter Milan in the final behind closed doors in Cologne to win the trophy for the sixth time in 15 years.

UEFA Europa League second qualifying round draw:

Hammarby (SWE) v Lech Poznan (POL)

Maccabi Haifa (ISR) or FK Zeljeznicar (BIH) v Kairat Almaty (KAZ)

B36 Torshavn (FRO) v The New Saints (WAL)

TSC Backa Topola (SRB) v FCSB (ROU)

Progres Niederkorn (LUX) v Willem II (NED)

Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni (MDA) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)

Lokomotiv Plovdiv (BUL) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)

Budapest Honved (HUN) v Malmo (SWE)

Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) v Rangers (SCO)

KF Renova (MKD) v Hajduk Split (CRO)

Dunajska Streda (SVK) v Jablonec (CZE)

Shamrock Rovers (IRL) v AC Milan (ITA)

Kaysar Kyzylorda (KAZ) v APOEL (CYP)

Lokomotiv Tbilisi (GEO) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)

Coleraine (NIR) v Motherwell (SCO)

KF Teuta (ALB) v Granada (ESP)

Viking Stavanger (NOR) v Aberdeen (SCO)

CSKA Sofia (BUL) v BATE Borisov (BLR)

KF Laci (ALB) v Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)

FK Ventspils (LAT) v Rosenborg (NOR)

Servette (SUI) v Reims (FRA)

Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v HSK Zrinjski (BIH)

Piast Gliwice (POL) v Prolactal Hartberg (AUT)

Hibernians (MLT) v Fehervar (HUN)

Nomme Kalju (EST) or NS Mura (SLO) v AGF Aarhus (DEN)

Neftci PFK (AZE) v Galatasaray (TUR)

IFK Gothenburg (SWE) v FC Copenhagen (DEN)

OFI Crete (GRE) v Apollon Limassol (CYP)

Bala Town (WAL) v Standard Liege (BEL)

FC Botosani (ROU) v KF Shkendija (MKD)

Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) v Kolos Kovalivka (UKR)

FK Riteriai (LTU) v Slovan Liberec (CZE)

Borac Banja Luka (BIH) v Rio Ave (POR)

FK Kukesi (ALB) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER)

NK Osijek (CRO) v FC Basel (SUI)

Bodo/Glimt (NOR) v Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)

Inter Club d’Escaldes (AND) v Dundalk (IRL)

KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

Linfield (NIR) v Floriana (MLT)

Riga FC (LAT) v SS Tre Fiori (SMR)

Djurgardens (SWE) v Europa FC (GIB)

Flora Tallinn (EST) v KR Reykjavik (ISL)

FK Sileks (MKD) v KF Drita (KOS)

FC Astana (KAZ) v FK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)

Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v CS Fola Esch (LUX)

Connah’s Quay Nomads (WAL) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)

– In a separate draw, KF Tirana of Albania and Ludogorets of Bulgaria were given byes into the play-off round

– Ties to be played on September 17 with winners advancing to third qualifying round

– Ties will be played as one-off straight knockout matches, rather than over two legs, because of the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The first-named clubs are at home.

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Havertz is heading for Chelsea and Volland for Monaco, says Bayer coach

Berlin (AFP) – Kai Havertz is probably going to Chelsea while Kevin Volland is almost certainly about to sign for Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz said on Monday.

Bosz said he “does not expect” either to return after the international break before adding: “in soccer, it can always fail in the end”.

Havertz, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who made his international debut two years ago, is one of the most exciting young talents in the German game.

“Quite frankly, discussions have been going on for a long time and I assume that there is a better chance of Kai leaving than of him staying,” said the Dutch coach whose team narrowly missed qualifying for the Champions League by finishing fifth in the Bundesliga.

Before the coronavirus crisis, Leverkusen were asking 100 million euros (120 million dollars) for Havertz.

Chelsea have already acquired another Bundesliga star, Leipzig striker Timo Werner, for an estimated 53 million euros.

Striker Volland, who is 28, has 10 Germany caps and has scored 44 Bundesliga goals in four seasons in Leverkusen.

“If you ask me if I expect him to come back, my answer is clear: ‘no!’ ” said Bosz.

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Michel Platini faces Swiss prosecutor in payment probe

Bern (Switzerland) (AFP) – Former European football chief Michel Platini arrived for a meeting with the Swiss public prosecutor on Monday as part of proceedings investigating a two million Swiss franc ($2.2 million) payment he received in 2011.

Platini was summoned to the Swiss capital Bern by prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand. Sepp Blatter, the former president of the sport’s world governing body FIFA, is due to meet the prosecutor on Tuesday as part of the same probe.

Platini, the former head of European football’s governing body UEFA, arrived at the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) complex in a taxi accompanied by his lawyer Dominic Nellen.

Wearing a suit and blue shirt without a tie and carrying a blue folder, he said “hello” towards waiting journalists and smiled briefly as he went to the registration office.

He briefly came out again to enter the main premises through a revolving metal gate.

Platini and Blatter each face interrogation from the public prosecutor as part of the proceedings, which were opened in 2015.

The 65-year-old former French football great now has the status of “accused” alongside Blatter.

Platini said at the time that the OAG had “confirmed in writing in May 2018” that his case was closed.

– ‘Back pay’ –

Kattner will be questioned on September 4.

Platini said he was being persecuted by FIFA.

“After five years, it is quite possible that FIFA will continue to harass me through complaints with the sole aim of keeping me out of football and smearing my reputation,” he said in June.

Blatter, who is 84, told AFP the payment was above board.

Platini appealed against his suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which reduced it to four years, then the Swiss Federal Court and finally at the European Court of Human Rights.

Hildbrand questioned Blatter in late July and early August in connection with a separate investigation into television rights contracts issued to the Caribbean Football Union.

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Sunday 30 August 2020

Thauvin lifts virus-afflicted Marseille to win at Brest

Paris (AFP) – Florian Thauvin marked his first start in 15 months with a goal and two assists as Marseille beat Brest 3-2 on Sunday in their opening game of the Ligue 1 season.

World Cup winner Thauvin missed all but 20 minutes of the coronavirus-shortened 2019-20 season with an ankle injury as Marseille came a distant second to Paris Saint-Germain, the club’s best finish in seven years.

Coach Andre Villas-Boas hopes the return to full fitness of Thauvin can help the team close the gap on bitter rivals PSG, who start their campaign on September 10 and host Marseille three days later.

Marseille’s scheduled opener last weekend was postponed after they suffered five cases of Covid-19. Dimitri Payet, Bouna Sarr and Alvaro Gonzalez were notable absentees for the trip to Brest as the club reported three further infections this week.

However, goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and left-back Jordan Amavi were cleared to play after stints in quarantine, while Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi made his Marseille debut after signing on loan from Borussia Dortmund.

Thauvin needed just 20 minutes to fire Marseille in front, gathering possession on the right and slashing inside in trademark style before sweeping home on his left foot via a telling deflection that lifted the ball over Gautier Larsonneur’s despairing dive.

His free-kick picked out Duje Caleta-Car to volley in a second on 27 minutes, the goal belatedly awarded after a lengthy VAR review overturned an initial offside decision.

Romain Faivre smashed in his first Brest goal just before half-time as Marseille’s vulnerability in their first competitive match since March 6 continued to give the home side reason to believe.

A Gaetan Charbonnier strike was ruled out for offside and the forward then sliced wide of an open goal before Marseille restored their two-goal advantage when another Thauvin free-kick was headed in by Croatian centre-back Caleta-Car.

Charbonnier stabbed beyond Mandanda a minute from time to set up a nervy finish but Marseille clung on as Brest captain Jean-Kevin Duverne’s last-gasp header landed on the roof of the net.

– Kovac gets first Monaco win –

Niko Kovac earned his first Ligue 1 victory as Monaco coach earlier on Sunday as his side beat Metz 1-0 away.

Teenage centre-back Benoit Badiashile scored for the second game in a row and Monaco held on despite playing almost half the match a man down following the dismissal of Youssouf Fofana.

“It was a very difficult match, especially in the second half with a player less. The reaction of the team, down to 10, was very good just like last week when they came back from 2-0 down,” said Kovac, whose opening game in charge against Reims ended in a 2-2 draw.

“I’m happy to have won, particularly as Monaco’s last win came back in February.”

Jonathan Bamba continued to rediscover his scoring touch with Lille winning 1-0 at Reims.

Lille winger Bamba, who scored only one goal in 26 league appearances last season, hit his second in two games of the new campaign in the 32nd minute of a dour game.

Bamba crossed his arms across his chest after scoring, dedicating his goal to actor Chadwick Boseman, who played the superhero from “Black Panther” and died on Friday at the age of 43.

Bordeaux are in second place, two points behind leaders Nice, after a 2-0 triumph at Angers courtesy of goals from Nigeria international Josh Maja and Toma Basic.

Nantes are one of five sides on four points, along with Rennes, Lille and Monaco, as they defeated Nimes 2-1 despite finishing the game with just nine men.

They led through an Andrei Girotto strike and Imran Louza’s penalty but the latter was sent off shortly after half-time.

Zinedine Ferhat pulled a goal back for Nimes before Brazilian full-back Fabio picked up a second booking in the closing minutes.

Romain Hamouma netted twice for Saint-Etienne in a 2-0 win over promoted Lorient as last season’s French Cup runners-up also made a belated start to the new campaign.

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Dominant Lyon beat Wolfsburg to claim fifth straight Women’s Champions League title

San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) – Japan star Saki Kumagai’s strike proved crucial as Lyon continued their reign as Europe’s dominant women’s club side on Sunday, beating Wolfsburg 3-1 in the Champions League final to win the trophy for the fifth year running.

Kumagai scored after Eugenie Le Sommer had handed the French outfit the lead in San Sebastian, giving Lyon a 2-0 half-time advantage and leaving Wolfsburg with too much to do even if Alexandra Popp did pull one back for the Germans in the second half.

Icelandic midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir’s late effort made sure of the victory for Lyon, whose fifth consecutive Champions League crown is also their seventh overall, comfortably a record.

A fifth straight title sees them equal the feat achieved by the Real Madrid men’s team between 1956 and 1960, in the early days of the European Cup.

All of Lyon’s seven titles have come in the last decade and this latest triumph confirms their status as the finest club team around even as rivals around Europe step up their investment in the women’s game.

Jean-Luc Vasseur’s team edged out Bayern Munich 2-1 in the quarter-finals at the ‘Final Eight’ in Spain’s Basque Country, played out behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They then claimed a narrow 1-0 win in the semi-finals over domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain, the team they beat to claim a 14th successive French title earlier this year and defeated on penalties in the French Cup final.

This victory, against a Wolfsburg side who themselves claimed a German domestic double and were unbeaten in 40 games coming into the final, showcased the depth of their all-star squad.

Lyon were missing four of their biggest stars, with France duo Griedge Mbock and Amandine Henry injured and Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg — the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner — not fully fit. England forward Nikita Parris was suspended.

But Lyon’s long-serving president Jean-Michel Aulas continues to be rewarded for his heavy investment in a women’s team, despite the prize money for winning the Champions League being a mere 450,000 euros ($535,000), a tiny fraction of that on offer in the men’s competition.

Here, despite the absences, Lyon were still able to call upon a host of French internationals and foreign stars like Kumagai, Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan and England right-back Lucy Bronze.

– Unbeaten in 65 games –

They are now unbeaten in 65 matches stretching back more than two years, and this is also the third time in five editions in which Lyon have beaten Wolfsburg in the final, leaving the Germans still searching for a third Champions League crown to go with their titles in 2013 and 2014.

They defeated OL in 2013, but the French side have now overcome the Germans en route to winning each of their five straight titles.

Previous finals between these sides have always been close affairs, although on this occasion the holders started strongly and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 25th minute.

Without Hegerberg or Parris, it was Le Sommer who led the attack. And when a move down the right ended with Delphine Cascarino cutting the ball back for Le Sommer, she pounced to convert the rebound after her first shot was blocked by goalkeeper Friederike Abt.

The second goal came in the 44th minute. Ingrid Engen stopped Amel Majri shooting but only succeeded in setting up Kumagai, who let fly with a terrific left-foot strike from 23 yards.

There was hope for Wolfsburg when they pulled one back just before the hour, Ewa Pajor setting up Popp to head in from close range.

But they could not find an equaliser and instead Lyon scored again in the 88th minute.

When a corner was not properly cleared, Le Sommer went for goal and her wayward shot was deflected in by Gunnarsdottir, who was on the losing side with Wolfsburg in 2018 but is this time a Champions League winner.

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Kaizer Chiefs stay top despite loss as Mamelodi Sundowns flop

Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) – Kaizer Chiefs clung to first place in the South African Premiership Sunday despite a heartbreaking loss after closest rivals Mamelodi Sundowns later suffered a stunning defeat.

A stoppage-time goal from Cameroonian Bienvenu Eva Nga gave Bidvest Wits a 1-0 victory over Chiefs at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.

The result opened the door for Sundowns to move to the top, but they blew the chance by falling 1-0 to lowly Baroka with Namibian Ananias Gebhardt scoring in another Soweto stadium.

Sundowns’ setback left them level on 53 points with Chiefs, but trailing on goal difference (plus 20/plus 15) with two rounds remaining in the richest African league.

The final rounds will be played this Wednesday and Saturday with Chiefs facing Chippa United and Baroka while Sundowns meet Polokwane City and Black Leopards.

Chiefs appear to have a slightly easier schedule as Chippa are safe from relegation while Sundowns’ opponents occupy the last two places in the table and are desperate for points.

Wits (49 points) and SuperSport United (47) still have mathematical chances of finishing first and snatching the record 15 million rand ($905,000/760,000 euros) first prize.

But despite the poor form of Chiefs and Sundowns since the league resumed on August 11 after a five-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, one of them looks likely to succeed.

Chasing a first trophy since 2015, traditional giants Chiefs have secured just five points from a possible 18 and Sundowns nine of the 21 on offer.

– Nurkovic biggest culprit –

German coach Ernst Middendorp called the defeat by Wits a “disaster” as his side wasted several scoring chances with usually clinical Serb Samir Nurkovic the biggest culprit.

He had only to tap the ball into an open net to put Chiefs ahead in the final minute of regular time, but opted for power and blazed the ball over the crossbar.

“I cannot fault the fighting spirit of my players, but we must convert our chances to win matches and should have got two or three goals today,” lamented Middendorp.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who has guided the Pretoria club to three Premiership titles in the past four seasons, blamed sloppy defending for the loss to Baroka.

“Slack marking cost us dearly. We did not pick up their players for a corner and that goal completely changed the complexion of the match.

“The last thing you want to do against opponents who are fighting for survival is fall behind. I thought we would be hungrier than them tonight, but I was wrong.”

It was only the seventh victory in 28 league matches for Baroka from northern city Polokwane and lifted them to 13th, two points above the relegation zone.

Just as the title chase looks set for a tense finish, so does the fight to avoid demotion, which carries serious financial consequences.

The club finishing last in the Premiership pockets 440,000 rand — 140,000 more than the winners of the second division.

Since the league restarted behind closed doors, matches have been confined to eight venues in Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria to try and curb the spread of the Covid-19 illness.

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