World Soccer Talk: September 2020

Wednesday 30 September 2020

Where to find Aston Villa vs. Stoke on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Aston Villa vs. Stoke City in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Aston Villa vs. Stoke City
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 2pm ET / 11am PT; Thursday, October 1, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Aston Villa vs. Stoke City and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

Now with ESPN+, you can stream Bundesliga, Serie A, UEFA Nations League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa America, US Open Cup, International Champions Cup, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Eredivisie, Danish Superliga, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, Australian A-League, Sweden’s Allsvenskan, MLS out-of-market games and USL.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes a selection of live games from MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

Even better, ESPN is now offering the Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $12.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic.

Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming.

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Where to find Brentford vs. Fulham on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Brentford vs. Fulham in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Brentford vs. Fulham
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Thursday, October 1, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Brentford vs. Fulham and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

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Lyon sign Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta from AC Milan

Lyon (AFP) – Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta has signed for Lyon from AC Milan on a five-year deal for a fee of 20 million euros ($23.4m), the French club announced on Wednesday.

“He is joining us for five seasons. He already knows some of the players in our squad and we are convinced he will quickly settle in,” said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas before confirming the fee.

Paqueta, 23, had earlier arrived in the city to undergo a medical. Capped 11 times by Brazil, he joined Milan from Flamengo in January last year but failed to properly settle at San Siro.

“Good luck to Lucas. He is still a good player and I told him to have full belief in his own ability,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli, who was speaking ahead of his side’s Europa League play-off tie against Rio Ave in Portugal.

The Lyon squad already features several Brazilians, including Paqueta’s fellow midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The club’s sporting director Juninho is also from Brazil.

Paqueta’s arrival at last season’s Champions League semi-finalists could smooth the way for Houssem Aouar to leave the club. The midfielder has been linked with Arsenal and Juventus.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide could also leave Lyon, with Aulas indicating there are two offers on the table for the France Under-21 midfielder. Those are thought to be from Rennes and Hertha Berlin.

Another player set to come in to Lyon is the 18-year-old Uruguayan winger Facundo Pellistri from Penarol.

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Struggling Schalke name Baum as Wagner’s replacement

Berlin (AFP) – Cash-strapped Bundesliga strugglers Schalke 04 on Wednesday named Manuel Baum as head coach on a two-year contract with former club captain Naldo as his assistant.

After David Wagner was sacked on Sunday, his successor Baum, 41, is tasked with ending Schalke’s miserable 18-match winless streak in the Bundesliga dating back to January.

His first game in charge will be at Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig on Saturday.

“Our most urgent task is to quickly give the team a sense of achieving success again, in training and in games,” said Baum.

“I am convinced of the quality of our squad.”

Schalke have had 12 different coaches in the last decade and Baum insists he knows “what I’m doing and what I’m getting myself into”.

He returns to the Bundesliga having coached Augsburg from 2016 until being fired in April 2019 with the team just above the relegation places.

Since then he has coached the national Under-18 team.

Former Brazil defender Naldo, 38, who recently ended his playing career at Monaco, made 80 appearances for Schalke from 2016 until 2019.

“It feels good to be back at Schalke,” said the Brazilian.

“Everyone knows I took the club to my heart.

“I want to use everything I have learned in almost 19 years as a professional to support Manuel Baum.”

Naldo’s most famous goal for the Royal Blues was in November 2017 when his 94th minute header sealed a last-gasp 4-4 draw at rivals Dortmund as Schalke came back from four goals down.

Baum is described by Schalke sports director Jochen Schneider as “an absolute specialist”.

“His teams always had clear structures on the field. This is a very important factor in our current situation,” Schneider added.

He sees Baum as being a “very good fit for Schalke”, but the new head coach will have to work with limited funds.

On Wednesday, Schalke announced a loss of 9.7 million euros ($11.4 million) in the first half of the year, increasing their debt to 205.3 million euros.

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Lyon set to sign Brazil’s Lucas Paqueta from AC Milan

Lyon (AFP) – Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta arrived in Lyon on Wednesday to undergo a medical before completing his transfer from AC Milan, the French club’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, told AFP.

“He is in Lyon and is having a medical. We are waiting for the white smoke. We have reached an agreement with AC Milan,” Aulas said.

The 23-year-old is expected to cost Lyon a fee of more than 20 million euros ($23.4m) according to various French media reports.

Paqueta, who has won 11 caps for Brazil, had joined Milan from Flamengo in January last year but failed to properly settle at San Siro.

Paqueta’s arrival at last season’s Champions League semi-finalists could smooth the way for Houssem Aouar to leave the club. The midfielder has been linked with Arsenal and Juventus.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide could also leave Lyon, with Aulas indicating that there are two offers on the table for the France Under-21 midfielder. Those are thought to be from Rennes and Hertha Berlin.

Another player set to come in to Lyon is the 18-year-old Uruguayan winger Facundo Pellistri from Penarol.

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Neymar has 34 million euro Spanish tax debt

Madrid (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar owes more unpaid tax than any other individual on a Spanish authorities’ blacklist with debts of 34.6 million euros ($40.5 million), according to an official document published Wednesday.

The Brazilian, who played for Barcelona from 2013 to 2017 before moving to the French club for 222 million euros in the most expensive transfer in history, tops the list of thousands of names published on the website of the Spanish tax office.

The Spanish press reported last year the country’s tax authorities were pursuing Neymar for fiscal fraud dating back to his time at Barca, but it is the first time the information has been officially confirmed.

The Spanish tax office, contacted by AFP, did not say whether Neymar’s presence on the list was linked to his 2013 transfer to Barcelona from Brazilian club Santos.

But it said to appear on the list of the highest debtors the individuals had to fulfil several criteria, including missing the final deadline to pay the debt.

According to media reports Spain’s fiscal authorities are investigating two of Neymar’s transfers, his arrival at the Camp Nou from Santos in 2013 and his switch to the French capital four years later.

Barca said the deal cost 57.1 million euros but according to Spanish authorities the club paid 83.3 millions euros for the attacker.

In 2016, he signed a new contract with the Catalans which included a progressive payment of bonuses but they refused to pay him the remaining 26 million euros in add-ons after he left for the Parc des Princes.

In June, a Spanish court dismissed the forward’s case against the club and told him to pay 6.79 million euros to the outfit, who claimed he had violated his deal.

Other footballers such as former Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar’s former Barca team-mate Lionel Messi have also had issued with Spanish tax officials.

In January 2019, Ronaldo, now at Italian side Juventus, was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence for committing tax fraud while he was in Madrid.

The Portugal forward also agreed to pay 18.8 million euros in fines and back taxes to settle the case, according to legal sources.

Messi paid a two-million-euro fine in 2016 in his own tax wrangle and received a 21-month suspended jail term.

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Africa roundup: Mali pick three Adama Traores, including Wolves ace

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mali have included three stars named Adama Traore in a squad for friendlies against Ghana and Iran in Turkey next month.

One of them is the 24-year-old Wolves winger, whose electrifying pace has left many English Premier League defenders trailing in his wake.

He was born in Spain and represented the country at age-limit but not senior level, making him eligible to play for Mali as his parents hail from the west African nation.

Here, AFP Sport rounds up football news from across the continent:

Mali

Adama ‘Noss’ Traore is a midfielder who plays for Hatayspor in Turkey while forward Adama ‘Malouda’ Traore lines up with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Adalah.

But media attention will centre on whether Wolves speedster Adama Traore turns up after being included in a 31-man squad by coach Mohamed Magassouba.

The squad news release did not indicate whether Malian officials or the national coach had contacted the Wolves star before including him.

Burundi

Olivier Niyungeko will not coach Burundi in an October 11 friendly against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam because he is getting married on the eve of the match.

Jimmy Ndayizeye will be the temporary replacement for the man who last year took the Swallows to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

Burundi made a poor start to 2021 Cup of Nations qualifying, losing away to the Central African Republic and at home to Morocco.

Sierra Leone

Former Sierra Leone captain Mohamed Kallon has been awarded the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest European football coaching qualification.

His achievement concludes eight years of study that involved the Confederation of African Football, the United States Soccer Federation and UEFA.

Kallon is also an experienced administrator having owned and been chairman of top-flight club Kallon FC in his homeland.

South Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane has been voted Footballer of the Season by the fledgling South African Football Journalists Association.

The 31-year-old was chosen ahead of four other finalists, including two foreign forwards, Serb Samir Nurkovic of Kaizer Chiefs and Namibian Peter Shalulile of Highlands Park.

A brilliant back-heel by Zwane set up the goal that gave Sundowns a 1-0 win over Chiefs last month, a result that played a crucial role in the club winning a third straight league title.

Egypt

Mohamed Salah-inspired Egypt are the only one of the top 10 ranked African countries who have not organised at least one friendly during the October 5-13 international window.

Instead, officials are concentrating on finishing the 34-round league, which resumed in August after a lengthy suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Record seven-time Africa Cup of Nations Egypt host and visit Togo during November in 2021 qualifiers after drawing their first two matches against Kenya and the Comoros.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea have been forced to cancel an October friendly against Ghana because of coronavirus-induced travel restrictions in the central African country.

Heightened border and flight clampdowns will prevent local-based stars in the Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) squad leaving the country.

The cancellation means new Portuguese coach Jorge Costa will not have any international warm-up matches before back-to-back Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya in November.

Ghana

President Nana Akufo-Addo has lifted the ban on contact sports, including football, imposed last March because of the coronavirus.

This government directive clears the way for the commencement of the 2020/2021 season with October 30 a likely kick-off date.

The last season was abandoned due to Covid-19 as clubs were reaching the halfway stage of the 30-round championship.

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Injured Bale left out of Wales squad

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale has been left out of the Wales squad for their forthcoming matches as the on-loan Tottenham forward recovers from a knee injury, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced on Wednesday.

Bale is still waiting to make his first appearance for Spurs since rejoining the Premier League club on a season-long loan from Real Madrid earlier this month.

The 31-year-old suffered a knee problem while playing for Wales in their Nations League matches last month.

Bale will miss the friendly against England at Wembley on October 8 and their Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria on October 11 and October 14 respectively.

“We’ve had conversations with both Gareth and the medical team and he’s not quite right for this camp,” Wales coach Ryan Giggs said.

“It’s nothing serious but it’s just one to keep an eye on. It has just taken a bit of time to settle down and he’s not quite right.

“Of course Gareth always keeps himself fit so he’s able to come back as soon as the injury is right. He will be back pretty soon I would imagine.

“He was close but I think with the circumstances, with him going to a new club, we had to think seriously about not only the short term but the long term.

“We want to have Gareth back fit, get him playing at a club he knows well. He will be playing regularly and I look forward to seeing him in the Premier League.”

Bale has played just 235 minutes for club and country since February.

Giggs’ decision to allow Bale to rehabilitate with his the north London side during the international break has gone down well with Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.

“It looks like Giggs cares about the player and understands how important the period is for Gareth,” Mourinho said.

“He’s not ready to play, he couldn’t play for them. But to be there, and lose the work he can do with us, would be very important for the player.

“The player belongs to Tottenham, the player belongs to the Welsh national team, and it looks like he’s going to have this opportunity to work specifically and to be back in good conditions.”

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Arteta urges Arsenal to reach Liverpool’s level

London (AFP) – Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta challenged his players on Wednesday to match the standards set by Liverpool when they face the Premier League champions for the second time in four days.

Arteta’s side were beaten 3-1 by the Reds in the league on Monday and they return to Anfield on Thursday for a League Cup fourth round tie.

Although the League Cup is not high on either side’s agenda, it would be another sign that the Gunners are heading in the right direction under Arteta if they can beat Jurgen Klopp’s side for the third time in their last four meetings.

They took the lead on Merseyside at the start of the week when Alexandre Lacazette netted, only for Liverpool to hit back with goals from Sadio Mane, Andrew Robertson and Diogo Jota.

Arsenal overcame Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield in August and beat them in the Premier League at the end of last season.

Arteta believes Klopp’s men are English football’s gold standard at present and he wants his players to strive to follow their example.

“I am happy that we competed throughout the game and I think there are a lot of things that we can do better – and we will do better – and that’s going to help us so much in the process,” Arteta told Arsenal’s website.

“We tried and they believed. That’s what I asked of them before the game, to believe.

“To play here with character and to play our way and now we just accept that they were better and that they are better at the moment and that we have to improve.

“This is the level that we have to reach. We will come back on Thursday and try to win again.”

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Pioneer female referee Steinhaus announces her retirement

Berlin (AFP) – The first woman to officiate a match in any of Europe’s top five leagues Bibiana Steinhaus will retire following Wednesday’s German Super Cup, it was announced hours before kick-off.

The high-profile clash between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena will be the last match refereed by the 41-year-old, the German Football Assocation (DFB) said.

“Like many people during the coronavirus pandemic, I have reflected and re-evaluated many things,” said Steinhaus in a statement.

The Hanover policewoman has refereed 23 Bundesliga matches since making history in 2017 and said she decided to finish “after carefully weighing up many factors”.

“In future, German football will not only have to do without an outstanding female referee, but will also lose an extraordinary personality and pioneer in a male domain,” said Fritz Keller, president of the DFB.

Steinhaus said she wants the focus of Wednesday’s clash between European champions Bayern and last season’s Bundesliga runners-up Dortmund to be “solely on the game”, not her swansong.

“In due course, I will talk in more detail about the reasons for my withdrawal,” she added.

During her career, Steinhaus also refereed the 2011 women’s World Cup final, when Japan stunned the US, and the women’s final at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, when the Americans gained revenge over the Japanese.

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Barkley hopes Villa move will revive England career

London (AFP) – England international Ross Barkley hopes his move to Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea will revitalise his chances of making the European championships squad next June.

Barkley was in danger of falling out of the picture with Chelsea and England following the Blues’ close-season signings of Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.

The 26-year-old had made only three appearances for Frank Lampard’s side this season.

Overall, Barkley has started just 28 Premier League games in a Chelsea shirt since arriving from Everton in 2018.

With the European Championships next year, he wants to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s plans and believes more regular playing time at Villa will give him a better chance.

“The last couple of years I’ve been stop-start, performing well and then being out of the team,” Barkley told Villa’s website.

“To come here and have the chance to play and perform regularly is a big thing for me. With the Euros at the end of the season, it’s a big target for me and hopefully I can be there.

“Dean Smith swayed me with the way he spoke to me, and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting season.”

Jack Grealish has starred in Villa’s unbeaten start to the season and Barkley revealed the club’s captain played a part in convincing him to join.

“We’re mates off the field and we know each other well,” Barkley said.

“We’ve spoken previously and I’m looking forward to playing with him.

“I’ve spoken to him over the past couple of weeks and he’s been telling me about how good the club is and how welcomed I’d be when I came here.”

Villa manager Dean Smith added: “Capturing a player of Ross’s quality is a real coup for our club and I am certain he will thrive here and improve our team.”

Barkley will be unavailable for Thursday’s League Cup visit of Stoke, having already played in the competition for Chelsea this season.

Smith’s side have won their opening two Premier League games and Barkley could make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday.

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Genoa demand Torino match be postponed after virus sweeps squad

Milan (AFP) – Serie A club Genoa on Wednesday demanded that their match against Torino this weekend be postponed after 14 people from their team and staff tested positive for coronavirus.

UEFA rules state that a match can take place as long as a team can count on 13 healthy players, including a goalkeeper, but Genoa’s sporting director Daniele Faggiani said that his players cannot prepare for Saturday’s home match as the players are self-isolating.

“We are all in home quarantine. The local health authorities have stopped us. We cannot play Saturday against Torino even with 13 players available. Without training we have to postpone the match,” Genoa sporting director Daniele Faggiani told Naples-based Radio Kiss Kiss.

Goalkeeper Mattia Perin and midfielder Lasse Schone missed Genoa’s 6-0 Serie A defeat at Napoli on Sunday after contracting Covid-19, and 12 others returned positive tests after the game.

Napoli announced on Wednesday that all swabs carried out on their players had come back negative.

Italian media report that Genoa say a second round of tests confirmed the 14 positives cases that the club had originally announced on Monday.

Undersecretary at the Italian Ministry of Health Sandra Zampa had caused a storm when she called for the league to be “suspended” after the cluster of Genoa cases.

“The protocols are clear, the championship must be suspended,” said Zampa.

She later clarified in a statement: “I said that players positive for Covid-19 could not play until they test negative. This does not mean that Serie A should be suspended, it will be for the Federation and the League to decide”.

Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that “the conditions to stop the championship have not been met”.

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Mourinho impressed by Alli’s response to Spurs axe

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho says Dele Alli has impressed him with the way he has handled being left out several times this season.

Alli has played in just two of Tottenham’s six matches this season and the England midfielder was substituted in both of those after unconvincing performances.

After playing for 60 minutes in last week’s Europa League qualifier against Shkendija, Alli was then omitted from Tottenham’s matchday squad for Sunday’s draw against Newcastle and Tuesday’s League Cup win over Chelsea.

Given Mourinho has repeatedly complained about the “crazy” fixture schedule that has stretched his squad to its limits, Alli’s lack of action shows his reduced status at present.

It is a remarkable fall from grace for a player hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young stars just three years ago.

As a result, the 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from Tottenham before the transfer window ends next week.

While Mourinho refused to confirm whether he would be involved in Thursday’s Europa League play-off against Maccabi Haifa, he has been impressed with his determined reaction to being dropped.

“I cannot confirm Dele’s playing but I cannot confirm he’s not playing,” Mourinho said.

“We have still training sessions, we have still decisions to make.

“The only thing I can say is he’s being very, very professional. I have only respect for him.

“He’s being very professional, particularly on Tuesday when the team was preparing for the game and he wasn’t.

“It would be perfectly acceptable to have a lack of motivation, even a lack of professionalism for this training session but it was exactly the opposite.

“He trained very hard. He has my respect and the respect of his team-mates so it’s possible he plays.”

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South African coach Mosimane quits Sundowns, linked to Ahly

Pretoria (AFP) – Highly successful Pitso Mosimane quit as Mamelodi Sundowns coach Wednesday, amid speculation that the South African will join African and Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

Mosimane confirmed in a tweet that he is leaving the Pretoria club and will sign for an unnamed “international club”.

“I am taking up a new challenge that will take me out of my comfort zone,” tweeted the 56-year-old former South Africa forward and coach.

The Egyptian media have been reporting that Ahly are about to part ways with Swiss coach Rene Weiler after a breakdown in contract renewal negotiations.

Mosimane recently signed a four-year extension to his contract after winning 11 African and domestic trophies since joining Sundowns in 2012 after being fired as the national coach.

His triumphs included the CAF Champions League, the CAF Super Cup, and five league titles and four cup competitions in South Africa.

In 2016, Sundowns became only the second South African club after Orlando Pirates to win the Champions League, and the first to compete at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Ahly have won a record 19 CAF titles, including the Champions League eight times, and recently clinched a 42nd Egyptian Premier League crown.

The Cairo Red Devils are familiar with Mosimane as Ahly and Sundowns met at the quarter-finals stage of the 2019 and 2020 Champions League.

Sundowns won 5-1 on aggregate last year and Ahly exacted revenge this season with a 3-1 overall victory.

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Hazard again sidelined for Real Madrid after fresh injury woes

Madrid (AFP) – Eden Hazard’s injury woes at Real Madrid look set to continue after the Belgian pulled out of the squad to face Real Valladolid in La Liga on Wednesday with a muscle problem.

Hazard was due to make his first appearance of the season but instead is expected to be out for at least two weeks, raising doubts around his availability for the Clasico against Barcelona in October.

“After the tests carried out today on our player Eden Hazard by Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his right leg,” a club statement confirmed.

Hazard has sat out Madrid’s opening two matches in La Liga, with coach Zinedine Zidane adamant the 29-year-old would only play when he was ready.

Asked earlier this month if Hazard had recovered from the ankle injury that plagued him last season, Zidane said: “I don’t know, I can’t tell you exactly.

“He is better and the most important thing is him, his feeling, that he is 100 per cent. We have time, we are starting the season. What he needs is to be 100 or 120 per cent.”

Zidane’s caution came after a nightmare opening year for the forward who, after joining from Chelsea for 100 million euros ($113m), suffered a thigh strain the day before his first game.

On his return, he showed glimpses of his best form, only to break a bone in his right ankle in November, which then required surgery in January and kept him out until February.

But Hazard was not completely healed when he came back and was in and out of the team during the run-in, starting only five of Madrid’s 11 games after the league restarted in June.

After Valladolid on Wednesday, Zidane’s team play away at Levante on Sunday ahead of the international break, when Belgium have Nations League games against England and Iceland.

Madrid are then scheduled to face Cadiz at home on October 18 before the first Clasico of the season against Barcelona comes a week later at the Camp Nou.

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Messi’s happiness not in my hands, says Koeman

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has said Lionel Messi’s happiness is not in his hands but admits he was pleased to hear the Argentine saying on Tuesday he wants to end his disputes with the club.

Koeman also confirmed Ajax defender Sergino Dest is “almost certain” to join Barca, with the 19-year-old expected to complete his medical on Wednesday before completing the move.

The signing of Dest would continue the shake-up at Barcelona, who have allowed Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo all to leave as they try to reduce the wage bill and refresh their squad.

Messi was forced to stay and expressed his disappointment at the way Suarez was pushed out to Atletico Madrid but in an interview with Diario Sport published on Tuesday, the 33-year-old said he wanted to “put an end” to the “disagreements”.

“I don’t know if after Messi’s words I will have a quiet life as coach of Barcelona, I don’t think so, there is always something, but of course it is very positive that the captain has come out like that asking us to be united,” Koeman said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“This was very positive and hopefully everything will be a bit quieter than it has been recently.”

Koeman was asked if he thinks Messi is happy at Barcelona. “I don’t know if I have that sort of thing in my hands. As a coach we have to look to make a better team for him, where he can shine, and look for a position in the team where he can deliver the best performances that he has always delivered for this club.

“I have seen in these four weeks that he lives for football, even in training matches he does everything to win and I think that winning matches is the remedy for Leo to be happy in this team.”

Dest will offer competition at right-back after Semedo was sold to Wolves. “Sergino is doing his medical and still the contract has to be signed so until he has signed, I prefer not to give an opinion,” Koeman said.

“But it’s almost certain that he will be here and then we will have a young full-back. It’s also a matter of changing things, having young players for the future of this Barca.”

Koeman said the future of Ousmane Dembele, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United before the end of the transfer window, is not up to him.

“The first thing to say is it’s up to the club and the player,” said Koeman. “While the player is with us, I am going to count on him. He has not played the last match because there are other players and Ansu (Fati) has shown he is a very good player for this team so he has to wait for his chance to play.

“He was better physically in the first few weeks, he had a little dip last week, but today he has trained well, so I want to say I am counting on him.”

Barcelona play away at Celta Vigo on Thursday after winning their opening La Liga game 4-0 against Villarreal on Sunday.

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Aston Villa sign Chelsea’s Barkley on loan

London (AFP) – Aston Villa have announced the signing of midfielder Ross Barkley on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The 26-year-old had made three appearances for Frank Lampard’s side this season, scoring once.

Villa manager Dean Smith said: “Capturing a player of Ross’s quality is a real coup for our club and I am certain he will thrive here and improve our team.”

The England international has been at Stamford Bridge since joining from Everton in January 2018.

He will be unavailable for Thursday’s League Cup visit of Stoke, having already played in the competition for Chelsea this season.

Smith’s side have won their opening two Premier League games and Barkley could make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday.

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Tuesday 29 September 2020

Where to find Flamengo vs. Independiente on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Flamengo vs. Independiente del Valle, you’ve come to the right place.

With the Copa Libertadores making its return after a break from the coronavirus outbreak, the latest week of the tournament features Flamengo vs. Independiente del Valle, live on U.S. television and streaming.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming:

Who: Flamengo vs. Independiente del Valle
What: Copa Libertadores
When: Game kicks off at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live exclusively on beIN SPORTS, fuboTV, Sling Latino, Vidgo and Fanatiz (free trial)

With Fanatiz, you can watch Flamengo vs. Independiente del Valle and tons of other Copa Libertadores games with a free 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Chromecast and Android TV.

With your free trial to Fanatiz, you have access to beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, GolTV, GolTV en Español, TyC Sports International, LaLiga TV, NuestraTele, Real Madrid TV, Sevilla TV and XTF.

Soccer fans on Fanatiz can access the following leagues and competitions from around the world: LaLiga, Copa Libertadores, Superliga Argentina, Ligue 1, Copa Sudamericana, Copa Argentina, Primeira Liga, Ecuadorian League, Bolivian League, Turkish Super Lig, LaLiga segunda division, Liga Águila, Copa Águila, CAF Champions League, CAF Confederations Cup, Ascenso MX, KNVB Dutch Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions, Uruguayan league, international friendlies and more.

And if you’re wondering what the advantages of Fanatiz are, here are just a few: (1) Most cost-effective way to access beIN SPORTS in order to watch LaLiga, (2) Includes all of the beIN SPORTS Connect channels integrated into app, (3) Exclusive rights to all of the Superliga Argentina games including River Plate and Boca Juniors, (4) Features other leagues from around South America, (5) Features Sevilla TV and (6) includes Real Madrid TV in English and Spanish.

Start your free 7-day trial to Fanatiz today.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Copa Libertadores games on US TV and streaming

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Where to find River Plate vs. Sāo Paulo on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch River Plate vs. Sāo Paulo, you’ve come to the right place.

With the Copa Libertadores making its return after a break from the coronavirus outbreak, the latest week of the tournament features River Plate vs. Sāo Paulo, live on U.S. television and streaming.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming:

Who: River Plate vs. Sāo Paulo
What: Copa Libertadores
When: Game kicks off at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live exclusively on beIN SPORTS en Español, fuboTV, Sling Latino, Vidgo and Fanatiz (free trial)

With Fanatiz, you can watch River Plate vs. Sāo Paulo and tons of other Copa Libertadores games with a free 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Chromecast and Android TV.

Start your free 7-day trial to Fanatiz today.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Copa Libertadores games on US TV and streaming

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Where to find Everton vs. West Ham on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Everton vs. West Ham in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Everton vs. West Ham
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Everton vs. West Ham and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

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Where to find Brighton vs. Man United on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Brighton vs. Man United in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Brighton vs. Man United
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Brighton vs. Man United and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

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Bayern and rivals await Champions League draw as pandemic riddle remains

Paris (AFP) – Less than six weeks Bayern Munich won last season’s delayed final behind closed doors, the draw for the group stage of the next Champions League takes place on Thursday with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic again hanging over the competition.

Bayern were crowned European champions for the sixth time after beating Paris Saint-Germain beating Paris Saint-Germain at an empty Estadio da Luz in Lisbon in August. The surreal occasion represented a triumph of sorts for UEFA.

European football’s governing body succeeded in playing its flagship competition to a conclusion despite the long shutdown caused by the health crisis, but the final rounds were not the same.

“A game like this without supporters is not the football that we know,” lamented Bayern coach Hansi Flick. “Perhaps they can be back again in the future.”

Thursday’s draw is part of a ceremony which will also see the best men’s and women’s player of last season crowned.

UEFA had to ditch plans to stage the event in Athens and instead moved it to its own headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where the draw will go ahead without guests.

It is further evidence that, after the battle to get last season finished, things are not about to return to normal in Europe yet, and virus cases are exploding again.

But this time the football, it seems, will go on.

Both Bayern and PSG will be in the first pot of seeds along with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Juventus, Porto, Zenit Saint-Petersburg and Sevilla, the Europa League winners.

There is the prospect of plenty of enticing match-ups, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and both Manchester clubs all in the second pot, and Inter Milan, Atalanta, RB Leipzig and Marseille among the lower seeds.

But the excitement of the draw will be quickly tempered.

First, there is the realisation that almost all the leading clubs will make it through to the last 16 anyway, as they always do, removing much of the jeopardy from the early games.

– Pitfalls ahead –

As the pandemic continues to cast a shadow, it seems hard to imagine the final going ahead as scheduled in Istanbul next May in a full stadium.

UEFA experimented with the return of fans when around 15,500 attended last week’s Super Cup between Bayern and Sevilla in Budapest.

“Health is the number one priority but we want to bring hope,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. He added: “Fans and players are the essential part of football.”

But with rules on large gatherings varying considerably from country to country, UEFA must decide how to approach the issue of crowds attending games in the Champions League and Europa League, the draw for which is on Friday.

UEFA’s current stance is that games will be behind closed doors “until further notice”.

It has adapted its rules. In the face of travel restrictions, it will allow matches on neutral territory. If a club suffers a Covid-19 outbreak, a game can go ahead as long as each team has at least 13 fit players including one goalkeeper.

The group stage starts on October 20, more than a month later than usual, and all six rounds of games will be packed into eight weeks.

However, in the event of more delays, UEFA has set January 28 as the deadline to complete the group stage.

Pitfalls lie ahead, but the draw offers a brief return to something like normality.

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Where to find Newport vs. Newcastle on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Newport County vs. Newcastle United in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Newport County vs. Newcastle United
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 2pm ET / 11am PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Newport County vs. Newcastle United and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

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Where to find Burnley vs. Man City on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Burnley vs. Man City in the US, we have all of the details for you about the League Cup Round 4 match.

The match won’t be shown live on US streaming, but you can stream it to your TV with the devices mentioned below.

League: League Cup

Genre: Sports

Looking to watch League Cup matches online from your office, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Burnley vs. Man City
What: League Cup Round 4
When: Game kicks off at 2pm ET / 11am PT; Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Where: Live on ESPN+

With ESPN+, you can watch Burnley vs. Man City and tons more League Cup games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One.

ESPN+ is only $5.99/month.

There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more.

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Messi says he wants to ‘put an end’ to Barcelona feuding

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi called for “an end” to arguments at Barcelona as he urged unity at the club he tried to leave before the season.

The Barcelona captain spoke to Barcelona newspaper Sport in an interview published online late on Tuesday.

“After so many disagreements, I would like to put an end to it,” said Messi.

“We must unite all Barcelona’s people and assume that the best is yet to come.”

Messi referred to his attempt to force Barcelona to release him from the final year of his contract after the disastrous end to last season left the club without a trophy.

“I take responsibility for my mistakes, that, if they existed, were only to make a better and stronger FC Barcelona,” said the Argentine.

“I wanted to send a message to all the club members and to all the fans. If any of them is bothered for a second by something I said or did, they should never doubt that I am always thinking about what is best for the club.”

“Adding passion and desire will be the only way to achieve our objectives, always united and pulling in the same direction,” said Messi, who last Friday criticised the way Barcelona had let Luis Suarez go saying “the truth is nothing surprises me anymore.”

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Mourinho bemoans ‘dangerous’ schedule as Spurs see off Chelsea

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho believes players are being put in danger by the football authorities after Tottenham beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the League Cup after a 1-1 draw.

Mourinho’s men were playing the second of four games in eight days in three different competitions.

Eric Dier was the only outfield player retained in the Tottenham team that started Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the Premier League against Newcastle and the England defender had to dash from the field for a comfort break in the second-half.

“The number of minutes played is dangerous. What I did today with I Eric Dier today is very dangerous,” said Mourinho, suggesting that dehydration could have led to the defender’s problem.

“It should be forbidden to play two matches in 48 hours. What Eric Dier did is not human.”

Timo Werner’s first goal for Chelsea compounded Mourinho’s woes in a dominant start from Frank Lampard’s men.

But Erik Lamela deservedly levelled for Spurs seven minutes from time and new Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was unable to stop Dier, Lamela, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane scoring from the spot.

Tammy Abraham, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Emerson also converted their penalties as the first nine of the shootout were successful.

But Mason Mount’s effort clipped the post to the delight of the watching Gareth Bale, who could be fit to feature in the last eight with the quarter-finals not till late December.

“Anything can happen on penalties,” said Lampard. “You want to stay in these competitions of course but there’s lots to like. We dominated the first half but the game changed (in the second-half).”

Mourinho claimed the fixture pile up gave him no choice but to prioritise Thursday’s Europa League tie against Maccabi Haifa given the financial incentive on offer for the club.

“I told the players they should only think about this game, but I have to think about three games,” added Mourinho, who faces another of his former clubs Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

“I cannot believe in 48 hours we are playing a European game. The boys were absolutely phenomenal.”

Lampard made eight changes, but Werner was one of those retained from the 3-3 draw at West Brom on Saturday and he took the opportunity to get his first goal for the club after a big money move from RB Leipzig.

Tottenham debutant Sergio Reguilon was twice at fault in the build up as he gifted possession to Azpilicueta and then dived in trying to block the Spaniard’s cross, which allowed the Chelsea captain to pick out Werner at the edge of the box to arrow a shot into the bottom corner.

Lampard had won his previous three meetings against his former manager Mourinho and the tensions between the two flared during the first-half as they exchanged angry words on the touchline.

On the field, Spurs were the better side as Mendy made important saves from Lamela and Reguilon either side of half-time.

Mourinho showed his intent by introducing Kane from the bench with 20 minutes to go.

Moments later the Portuguese was marching down the tunnel after Dier as the defender made a dash to the dressing room before quickly returning.

Chelsea did not make the most of a brief period with an extra man as Callum Hudson-Odoi fired over and Werner’s fierce effort was saved by Lloris.

“He wasn’t happy but there was nothing I could do about it, nature was calling,” said Dier of being pursued by Mourinho. “I heard there was a chance, but thankfully they didn’t score.”

Chelsea were punished when Lamela slotted home at the far post from Reguilon’s cross to send the game to a shootout and ultimately Spurs into the last eight.

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