Barcelona confirm interest in Rabiot but deny breaking transfer rules

Barcelona (AFP) – Spanish champions Barcelona confirmed their interest in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot in a statement on Sunday but have denied any transfer irregularities.

“In response to information published in France, FC Barcelona affirm that they have not broken any rule concerning the transfers of players from PSG,” said the statement published only on the French language section of their website. 

“The only contact took place last August and a week ago. These two contacts took place with the sporting officials of PSG to indicate Barca’s interest in the player Adrien Rabiot.”

PSG said earlier in December that they will allow the 23-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, to join another club at the end of the season due to his reluctance to sign a new deal.

His agent Veronique Rabiot, who is also his mother, said the following day that the situation between the French champions and her son had completely  deteriorated.

Barcelona, who were banned from signing players for a year in 2014 for breaking rules over the international transfer of players aged under 18, have been at pains to point out that they have not signed any deal prior to the transfer window opening on January 1.

“Barcelona have always wanted to work with transparency with PSG and any other club,” said the statement.

“Barcelona deny the existence of an agreement with PSG player Adrien Rabiot.”

Rabiot, who has made more than 150 top-flight appearances, has been agitating for a transfer for some time. He also rejected a chance to be on standby for France’s World Cup-winning squad.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2Qaq7Cr

Injuries a worry for Sarri as Chelsea beat Palace

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri said Chelsea’s lengthening injury list is causing concern ahead of his side’s crowded January schedule.

Striker Olivier Giroud became the Blues’ latest casualty, hobbling out of the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday and leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.

Chelsea had gone into the game without five players, including Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Danny Drinkwater who were all injured in training the previous day.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pedro, the only one of the six to have started more than half of Chelsea’s league games this season, were already sidelined.  With Wednesday’s meeting with Southampton the start of a run of seven games in January, Sarri was left hoping Giroud’s injury was not as bad as first feared.

– ‘Unlucky’ –

“The problem is his ankle,” said the Chelsea head coach when asked about the France international’s injury.

“I don’t know the severity. We have to wait for tomorrow. I think that, later in the evening, I will see the doctor for the first results, but I think the real result will only be known tomorrow.

“In the last few days we were a bit unlucky. Yesterday in 10 minutes we had three injuries –- Fabregas, Loftus and Drinkwater –- then Giroud today, and we were already without Pedro and Odoi. We are in trouble because, in January, we have to play every three days.”

Sarri added: “Fabregas is a neck problem. The injury was in the last five minutes of training, so I’m not sure whether he has to rest for two or 10 days.”

Chelsea moved five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal thanks to N’Golo Kante’s 51st-minute goal.

Sarri said Kante’s well-timed run and composed finish demonstrated how the midfielder was growing accustomed to the more attacking role he has been asked to fill this season.

“He is improving, especially in his movement without the ball,” the Italian explained. “Today his movement was really very good and done with the right timing. 

“It’s very important for us when we have to play against opponents very low, where the strikers and wingers find it hard to find space. 

“It’s about the movement of the midfielders. We have to work on Loftus and Ross Barkley on this. Loftus, especially, is a very great player with the ball, but he can improve a lot in his movement without the ball.”

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2VmBdYG

Kante’s goal secures Palace coup for Chelsea

London (AFP) – N’Golo Kante showed signs he is growing into his more advanced midfield role with a composed finish that gave Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has been criticised for moving Kante out of his more familiar position in front of the back four, with Jorginho filling the holding role.

As a result, Kante’s effectiveness this season has been questioned, but the former Leicester City man impressed as he struck the 51st minute match-winner that helped the Blues tighten their grip on fourth by opening up a five-point gap to Arsenal.

Kante followed a perfectly timed run to meet David Luiz’s chipped pass  with a clinical finish to cap a dominant display by Sarri’s side against London rivals Palace.

Chelsea’s failure to add to Kante’s third league goal of the season will have given Sarri some concern, though, and would have proved costly had Palace substitute Connor Wickham not skied a late chance over the bar.

The Italian manager reshaped his forward line by including Olivier Giroud as the central striker — a decision that handed Alvaro Morata another reminder of his place in the strikers’ pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard was among the substitutes, while Giroud’s inclusion freed Eden Hazard from his recent duties as a false nine, allowing the Belgium international to return to his more familiar position on the left of the front three.

But despite dominating, particularly in the second half, Chelsea’s chances remained limited.

– Hazard warning –

Hazard quickly made the most of his freedom to drift in from the flank, testing the Palace defence with a number of runs from deep.

The Belgian’s 34th-minute run towards the home penalty area drew a foul from Cheikhou Kouyate and led to the game’s first real opportunity.

Willian’s curling free-kick from 25 yards took a deflection off the defensive wall before clipping the outside of Vicente Guaita’s right-hand post.

The Palace goalkeeper did well to punch the resulting corner clear, but Willian almost caught the Spaniard out with a fierce low shot from distance.

This passage of play suggested Chelsea were beginning to assert themselves but Palace’s belief had clearly been strengthened by their victory at champions Manchester City eight days previously.

The home side appeared happy to concede territory in the hope of hitting Chelsea on the break and it was little surprise the game remained locked in stalemate at half-time.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2QbuVaO

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

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Southampton vs. Man City on US TV in the Premier League, you’ve come to the right place.

For viewers in the US, Southampton vs. Man City will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below).

Match: Southampton vs. Man City

Kickoff: Sunday, 9:15am ET

Looking to watch Southampton vs. Man City online from your work, 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: Southampton vs. Man City
What: Premier League, gameweek 20
When: Game kicks off at 9:15am ET / 6:15am PT; Sunday, December 30, 2018
Where: Live on NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

 

With fuboTV, you can watch Southampton vs. Man City and tons more Premier League games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast.

Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES.

Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers.

The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle.

 

Here are the steps to take to watch the Southampton vs. Man City game with your free fuboTV trial:

1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial.

2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below)

3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below)

4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below)

5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Southampton vs. Man City game (see screengrab below)

6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include NBCSN featuring Southampton vs. Man City (see screengrab below)

SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2EX5fge

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

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Man United vs. Bournemouth on US TV in the Premier League, you’ve come to the right place.

For viewers in the US, Man United vs. Bournemouth will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below).

Match: Man United vs. Bournemouth

Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30am ET

Looking to watch Man United vs. Bournemouth online from your work, 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: Man United vs. Bournemouth
What: Premier League, gameweek 20
When: Game kicks off at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT; Sunday, December 30, 2018
Where: Live on NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

 

With fuboTV, you can watch Man United vs. Bournemouth and tons more Premier League games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast.

Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES.

Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers.

The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle.

 

Here are the steps to take to watch the Man United vs. Bournemouth game with your free fuboTV trial:

1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial.

2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below)

3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below)

4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below)

5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Man United vs. Bournemouth game (see screengrab below)

6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include NBCSN featuring Man United vs. Bournemouth (see screengrab below)

SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2EWvgwG

Where to find Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea on US TV in the Premier League, you’ve come to the right place.

For viewers in the US, Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below).

Match: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea

Kickoff: Sunday, 7am ET

Looking to watch Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea online from your work, 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: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea
What: Premier League, gameweek 20
When: Game kicks off at 7am ET / 4am PT; Sunday, December 30, 2018
Where: Live on NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

 

With fuboTV, you can watch Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea and tons more Premier League games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast.

Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES.

Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers.

The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle.

 

Here are the steps to take to watch the Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea game with your free fuboTV trial:

1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial.

2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below)

3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below)

4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below)

5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea game (see screengrab below)

6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include NBCSN featuring Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea (see screengrab below)

SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2SsAK5J

Five talking points in Serie A before the winter break

Milan (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twicee as Juventus brought the curtain down on a record-breaking 2018 with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria before the three-week winter break in Italy.

Ronaldo powered the unbeaten reigning champions to a record number of points from the first half of the season with 53 from 19 games.

Napoli are nine points behind in second, with Inter Milan a further five adrift in third, days after their clash at the San Siro was marred by the death of a supporter and Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly being targeted by racist chanting.

Here are five talking points from Serie A this weekend:

Numbers game for goal-machine Ronaldo

Ronaldo overtook Rui Barros as the Portuguese player to score the most goals in a Serie A season, bettering his compatriot’s 12 goals for Juventus in 1988-1989.

Ronaldo scored within two minutes and added a second from the spot for his 14th goal of the campaign. It was also Juve’s 100th goal of 2018 in all competitions, with Ronaldo having already scored the club’s 5,000th goal in Serie A against Torino mid-December.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 49 goals in 2018 of which 15 in 23 games were for Juventus, 28 in 22 games for Real Madrid and six in seven games for Portugal.

The 33-year-old is second in 2018 behind Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who topped the year’s goal-scoring chart with 51.

Higuain revives AC Milan

Gonzalo Higuain ended his two-month goal-scoring drought, netting the winner amid great emotion in the San Siro for a 2-1 success over SPAL which threw coach Gennaro Gattuso a lifeline.

The seven-time European champions have dropped out of the Champions League places, having failed to score in four games for the first time since 1984.

And forward Higuain, who scored 16 Serie A goals for Juventus last season before going on loan to Milan to make way for Ronaldo, has been linked with a move to Chelsea.

“Higuain really struggled to deal with this negative period, but hopefully has broken through that mental block,” said Gattuso.

Roma looking up

Things are looking up for Roma after a difficult start to the season with Bryan Cristante and Cengiz Under sealing a 2-0 win over Parma to move to within two points of the Champions League places.

“We’ve rediscovered our identity,” said coach Eusebio Di Francesco after achieving back-to-back wins for just the third time this season.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2EYaX29