Primera Division 2010 2011 Barcelona Santander on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 20
22nd january 2011: 

barcelona v. racing santander

Pep Guardiola's boys are aware a sound victory will be the perfect remedy for midweek's defeat against Betis, the second one this season.
Racing's captain Pedro Munitis is banned from performing for the next two games, having been booked twice last week at Athletic's Cathedral. His absence will greatly diminish Racing Santander's offensive firepower.

At least midfielder Manuel Arana might return to the starting eleven for this clash, assuming the responsiblity of driving teams cruise in FC Barcelona.
Barcelona's coach Pep Guardiola knows that whatever doesn't kills you makes you stronger, and for that reason he believes the last game against Betis has left behind a positive impact on his team.

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P.L. 2010 2011 Newcastle Tottenham on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 24
22nd january 2011: 

newcastle united v. tottenham hotspur

Pienaar could start his Spurs career on the substitute’s bench while Redknapp must decide whether to recall Jermain Defoe after the striker started as a substitute for the goalless draw against Manchester United.
Spurs have been pursuing Newcastle’s Andy Carroll but the England striker remains a doubt with a thigh muscle strain that has kept him out of the last four games, including three in the Premier League.
But during his absence, Newcastle have avoided  defeat and taken seven points from a possible nine.

In December, Newcastle lost 2-0 to a Spurs side that could even afford to lose Younes Kaboul to a red card in between the goals.
They will also be without the suspended Cheik Tiote, sent off at Stevenage in the FA Cup, and Ryan Taylor (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg).
Spurs arrive without Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Ledley King (groin), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin).

P.L. 2010 2011 Arsenal Wigan on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

week 24 22nd january 2011: 

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal players fully intend to "go for it" as they target an unprecedented quadruple.

The Gunners host Barclays Premier League relegation-battlers Wigan on Saturday looking to maintain the momentum from a 3-1 midweek FA Cup third-round replay win at Leeds, which followed the 3-0 drubbing of bottom club West Ham.

Next week Arsenal, who last won a trophy in 2005, take on npower Championship strugglers Ipswich in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit and stay on course for Wembley, while a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup is there for the taking against League One Huddersfield.

Quizz Of The Day

Campionato 2010 2011 Milan AC Bari on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

fifth round
20th january 2011:
ac milan v. bari

Tonight's match, though, will be a wholly different ball game as Milan cannot afford to commit mistakes. The Round of 16 tie against Bari in the Coppa Italia looks to be an easy enough fixture on paper but this is a Cup game and the Diavolo will have to be careful.

One suspects that Bari could have done without playing an extra match this week. With just 14 points from 20 matches, the Galletti are rooted to the bottom and tonight's trip to Milan is an unnecessary and almost enforced distraction.

Football Funnies

Blue Samouraïs : Asian Games 2010 & Asian Cup 2011

 

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Coppa Italia 2010 2011 Roma Lazio on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

fifth round

19th january 2011: 

roma v. lazio

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri hopes his side continues to enrich their seasonal ambitions by beating city rivals Lazio in Wednesday's Coppa Italia derby. A place in the quarter-finals is at stake, and despite an intense focus on challenging for the Scudetto, Ranieri reminded his men that the Coppa Italia will not be pushed aside. "It's not a real derby, but we can feel it, and we want to win," Ranieri told the press.

"I have rediscovered my team and we have been trying to climb point after point to win the Scudetto.
"Favourites for tomorrow? There is no favourite for the derby. We are playing well, but so are they.  "There is happiness and enthusiasm in the dressing room. Everyone wants to be there, and those teams with the most quality get there in the end. "I expect a win tomorrow as Roma are aiming to win every competition they are involved in."

Coppa Italia 2010 2011 Napoli Bologna on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

coppa italia 2010/11

fifth round
18th january 2011: napoli v. bologna

Napoli are in the middle of what could eventually turn out to be one of their most successful seasons in recent years as the Partenopei are second in the Serie A table and just four points behind leaders Milan.

The suggestion is that Walter Mazzarri's side are not strong enough for the Scudetto but for a club steeped in aesthetics, one suspects that they would carry on believing in the improbable for the time being.
To accentuate their campaign with more romance, Napoli will aspire to embark on a long Coppa Italia run. Today the Azzurri begin their journey with the visit of Bologna in Naples and would be expected to win. Furthermore, Mazzarri's team have already played the Rossoblu at the Stadio San Paolo this season and on that occasion in the league in November they won 4-1.

Sudamericano Sub-20 Perou 2011 : Brasil Paraguay

Group B

18 January 2011

The U-20 continental tournament for South America, the 2011 South American Youth Championship is being held in Peru from 16 January to 6 February 2011. There are some serious qualifying stakes to this tournament, with invites to the 2011 U-20 World Cup, the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Summer Olympics on the line. The tournament begins with a group stage, with the 10 teams divided into two groups. The top three from each group will qualify for a final group stage, which will be played over 5 matchdays between 31 January and 12 February. The top four finishing teams earn trips to both the U-20 World Cup and the Pan American Games, and the top two teams also get spots in the 2012 Olympics.