Who can stop us??

(From WorldSoccerNews.com)

Barcelona's stunning 4-1 win over Racing Santander will have sent shock waves throughout the rest of Spanish first division.

Racing, despite their lowly position, had one of the meanest defences in the Spanish first division but Barca found as little resistance from them as they had against Champions League opponents Panathinaikos and Werder Bremen and bitter domestic rivals Real Madrid.

The reigning Spanish champions' statistics this season are frightening.

Frank Rijkaard's men have now won their last six league games and the Catalan club have only scored less than three goals in one of their last nine Champions League and La Liga outings.

"We never know what our limit is," said Barca's Dutch coach after their latest victory, praising his team after a display of total football which mirrored the famous generation of Johann Cruyff.

However, Rijkaard's team is not being compared to the Barcelona of Cruyff's playing days in the mid-1970s but his time as a coach in the 1990s.

Cruyff established Barca's Dream Team which won five consecutive Spanish titles and also took the 1992 European Cup, which is still their only triumph in Europe's top club competition.

"The last 20 minutes were not so good, but that's only a minor detail," added Rijkaard.

"However, let's not get too carried away with all the euphoria. We still have to be very serious and carry on working because we don't want to crash."

The key to Barca's success is their phenomenal front line.

Not only is Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o the Spanish first division's top scorer with 12 goals to his name in 13 matches but they also have the second most prolific man in the shape of Ronaldinho, the World Player of the Year having found the net nine times.

Backing up the pair is the speedy Portuguese winger Deco and the Argentine teenage phenomenon Lionel Messi, whose bewitching speed and skill has already reduced many defences to shreds.

Messi, still only 18, is often talked about as the new Maradona.

Perhaps the last word in testimony to how good Barca are becoming should belong to the coach of their latest victims, Racing.

"This is a special team. The only thing I can do is congratulate them after a game like this when one team is so superior to the other," said Racing's awestruck Manuel Preciado.

EPL Result - Summary

(From Soccerway.com)

LONDON, Nov 26 (SW) – Chelsea, Arsenal and the Spurs all won their Premiership match on Saturday, while Sunderland are stuck in last position following a defeat by Birmingham.

Portsmouth - Chelsea 0-2
Argentinian striker Hernán Crespo opened the score for the Blues in the 27th minute, and midfielder Frank Lampard converted a penalty in the 67th minute to set the score to 0-2.

Arsenal – Blackburn Rovers 3-0
Arsenal boosted their chances of chasing title favourites Chelsea by seeing off a Blackburn side who weren’t up to the challenge on the day. Cesc Fabregas scored the opener after just 4 minutes and Thierry Henry doubled the lead on the stroke of half time. Robin van Persie continued his goal scoring form by adding the third goal with 10 minutes remaining.

Wigan Athletic – Tottenham Hotspur 1-2
Spurs closed the gap between themselves and their hosts after a vital away win put just 2 points between the sides. Robbie Keane got the visitors off to a blinding start when he had the ball in the net after just 8 minutes. Edgar Davids doubled the advantage in the 77th, but tensions were high in the final minutes after Lee McCulloch pulled a goal back for Wigan in the 88th minute.

Manchester City – Liverpool 0-1
A single goal was enough for Liverpool to defeat Man City on their home ground and take the three points back to Anfield. The goal came in the 61st minute through a John Arne Riise strike.

Aston Villa – Charlton Athletic 1-0
Villa gained 3 much needed points against a visiting Charlton side to pull themselves away from the dangerous drop zone. Steven Davis scored the only goal of the game in the 69th minute to relieve some pressure off David O’Leary’s men.

Sunderland – Birmingham City 0-1
The bottom of the table clash at the Stadium of Light resulted in the home side allowing Birmingham to cast some distance between the two sides. Julian Gray’s strike for City in the 68th minute was enough to see the Black Cats fall 4 points behind the Blues.

English Premiership Match Preview : Portsmouth vs Chelsea

Chelsea 11Win 1Draw 1Loss
Portsmouth 2Win 4Draw 7Loss

Tonight, Chelsea will travel to South Coast to meet poor Pompey side which had just got their manager, Perrin sacked last week.

Chelsea are back on their form, and in winning track, somewhat after a bad November. They had already won twice in last week and are on their way to the second round of Champion League.

On the other hand, Pompey side looks bad this season with only 2 win so far and was winless at home. They really must need a miracle in order to have a 1st win at home versus the best premiership team so far.

Jordan, Pompey’s caretaker will have captain Dejan Stefanovic back after an ankle injury while striker Svetoslav Todorov could also make his first start for two years after making a two-goal international for Bulgaria recently.

While Mourinho will be without Dutch winger Arjen Robben for the trip to Portsmouth as he has still not fully recovered from the hamstring strain that has plagued him for over a month. Claude Makelele and Glen Johnson are also out. But Didier Drogba might have a chance to play.

Chelsea is the hot favorite tonight, but this is what make it dangerous to bet on. Thus, I am willing to take the risk of betting on Pompey and take up the +1 ¼ Asianhandicap.

UEFA Cup Match Preview: CSKA Moscow vs Levski

Last chance for the home side to do some catch up on the table place in order for them to progress in Uefa Cup competition.
CSKA is in a must win situation. as any other result for CSKA would mean saying goodbye to last year title...and judging by quality of the team, they certainly do not deserve that.

CSKA managed to gain only 1 points after 2 rounds was played. CSKA will have Carvalho back in at the midfield, as for Vagner Love, who had suffered a little noise injury in training, will be ready to start too. Levski had a real lucky win home match in last performance, thanks to the late goal (in full extratime, 10 seconds to end game from Angelov). The bulgarian side had created a few chances during the entire match.

Levski coach Stoilov will be considering a switch of formation to 4-2-2 against the opponents.Left side striker, Milan Korpivarov’s is doubtful for tonight match after an ankle injury and midfielder Daniel Borimirov is still out with flu.

It is very clear that CSKA is definitely one class above their opponents, but this might be a risk that the home team will underestimate them. But considering the importance of the match, CSKA will have the right concentration to win this game.

CSKA MOSOW TO WIN, full stake. (Asianhandicap CSKA 0 : -1 Pick : HOME)

Champion's League Match Preview : Fenerbahce vs AC Milan

Disappointe with Man Utd last match result. They had the chances and control the game well, but still ended in a goaless draw. Of course Villareal play well defensive games and I could only say that, in soccer, no matter how well you played, the most important of all is to score.

Here comes next preview for tonight champion league match.

1st of all this is a tough game in this group. In group E, all teams still have the possibility of promotion. Milan has one more home game to play against Schalke and they will want get a win in these 2 remaining games.

Schalke is playing against PSV in Germany and in my own opinion PSV might not be able to get a full 3 points here. So Milan has all the the posibility of finishing the group in the first place and advance to the next round.

Fenerbahçe has a good squad, but tonight they will be missing three very important players, who are the spine of this team: Alex(injured), Aurellio(suspended), Luciano(suspended). Alex is the main scorer and assister of Fenerbahce.Without him, Anleka and Tuncay will have a hard time of finding the net. Aurellio is a defensive midfielder, and without him Fenerbahces midfield burden will all be on the shoulders of Appiah. Luciano is center-back of the team and a tall and powerfull player. His absence will cause more pressure on the others defenders.

In my own view Milan would have a hard time fighting against a full squad Fenerbahce, however they are in need of 3 points desperately and with Fenerbahces spine is down. Milan will win this match.

In Asianhandicap, Milan is giving -1/2 ball to Feberhces and I am all out to take up this offer.

Champion's League Match Preview : Manchester United vs Villarreal

Tonight Manchester will miss Neville, Heinze and Giggs. But in fact, these 3 players also never played in the last weekend match against Charlton, where Man Utd, went on to win at a 2-1 scoreline.

Probable Line-up from Man Utd(4-4-2): Van der Saar; OShea, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Brown; Ronaldo, Smith, Scholes, Fletcher; Van Nistelrooy, Scholes.

Man Utd must win this match at home in order to advance further in the Champion League.Back in form Van Nistelrooy will probably continue to be the captain of Man Utd, and he did well by scoring 2 in the last match against Charlton.

Villareal is leading the table currently, but tonight Villareal will missed of the fantasist Riquelme and the striker Forlan yet, like Quique. With such squad, they would face a uphill task when travelling to Old Trafford. Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Barbosa; Kromkamp, Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Arruabarrena; Senna, Josico, Roger, Sorin; Josè Mari, Figueroa.

In this kind of matches, international experiences will play a big part. Man Utd have more players who had the experiences.

Tonight Man Utd is giving a -1 handicap, and I am totally in full confidence that Man Utd will not lose this match.

MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN, full stake.

Pompey Boss is losing patience

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric is prepared to sack manager Alain Perrin unless results improve.

Mandaric is concerned by Portsmouth's form, with the club 15th in the Premiership and just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Pompey face 4 tough match ahead with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday and followed by the visit of champions Chelsea to Fratton Park plus away games at Manchester United and Tottenham.

Mandaric insists he will not give Perrin an ultimatum, but expects Portsmouth to win at least one of those next four league fixtures.

'I am concerned. At the end of the day I am responsible for results so I have got to do what I have got to do,' Mandaric told the Daily Mirror.

'I am not going to give ultimatums of one, two or 10 matches. You have got to back your manager 100 per cent whether it is for one game or 10 seasons.

'But of course I am not very happy with our results and our position. If that means I have to change the manager one day, we have to face facts soon. I have done it before.

'We are going to have to pick up some points from our next four games. I expect us to win at least one of them.

'We are going to take one game at a time and see where we are going. I am going to monitor our situation closely.'

At the same time, Pompey have also become the first club to publically declare their interest in signing Roy Keane, who left Manchester United on Friday.

Zidane: We are not good enough...

PARIS, Nov 13 (Reuters) - France are falling short of their best and need to improve to do well at next year's World Cup, Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane said on Sunday.

'It's way too short for the moment. At the World Cup, we'll have to do better, all together,' Zidane told French television.

France were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Germany at the Stade de France on Saturday, three days after a 3-2 win over Costa Rica in Martinique.

However Zidane, who missed the two games with a groin injury, said France had improved since coach Raymond Domenech took over from Jacques Santini in July 2004.

'There was a little something missing, a victory, a little bit of confidence. That is what we gained with our victory in Ireland,' he said.

France qualified for the World Cup finals after Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele came out of international retirement, by finishing top of their qualifying group, beating Ireland 1-0 away in a pivotal match last September.

Zidane said he was delighted with Nicolas Anelka's return to the squad, three years after winning his last cap.

The Fenerbahce striker had not been picked since he snubbed a late call-up for a friendly against Yugoslavia in November 2002.

He scored France's first goal against Costa Rica last Wednesday.

Owen to the rescue...

GENEVA - Michael Owen scored twice from headers in the last three minutes as England came from behind to beat Argentina 3-2 in an extraordinary friendly here on Saturday.

If this marvellously open game was a taster of what can be expected in the World Cup finals next summer, Germany 2006 will be a rare treat.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had made it clear that his World Cup preparations began here, and if he was disappointed that the deployment of Ledley King in front of the back four did not transform their defence into an impregnable barrier, there was great encouragement from his own forward line.

King struggled to deal with the lively Argentinian playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, but, in fairness to the Tottenham defender, the far greater deficiency was Wayne Bridge's.

Eriksson had expressed concern about his fitness as he returns following a double-fracture of his ankle, and he looked lost not just physically but positionally before being taken off for Paul Konchesky at half-time.

Argentina's opening goal, after 34 minutes, may not have been entirely Bridge's fault - Wayne Rooney lost possession to Estaban Cambiasso and Steven Gerrard missed a challenge on Carlos Tevez in the build-up - but he was beaten far too easily by the left-winger Maximiliano Rodriguez, who crossed for Hernan Crespo to bundle home.

Bridge had repeatedly been found wanting in an extraordinary opening 20 minutes in which Paul Robinson made fine saves from Riquelme and Tevez, and Crespo had a goal ruled out for a far from obvious push on Luke Young.

Yet England also had a goal chalked off in that opening period, Owen straying fractionally offside before glancing a delightfully disguised Rooney cross past Roberto Abbandanzieri. Rooney, running onto a Gerrard ball, struck a post on the half-hour, and it was the ever-threatening Manchester United forward who equalised seven minutes before half-time, sidefooting a first-time finish after Beckham had touched on a half-blocked Frank Lampard cross.

The half-time substitution did little to ease England's problems at left-back. Only a sprawling save from Robinson prevented Juan Pablo Sorin heading his side back in front after Crespo had flicked on a Zanetti cross, but Argentina's second did arrive nine minutes into the second half.

Konchesky failed to pick up Walter Samuel at the back of the box, and he bundled Riquelme's free-kick back across Robinson and inside the far post. England, though, remained a threat. Lampard hit a drive just wide from the edge of the box, before, with 17 minutes remaining, Abbandanzieri made a superb double save to keep out both England captain David Beckham's free-kick and Owen's sliding follow-up.

Peter Crouch, whose introduction in England last game brought boos, was cheered onto the field with nine minutes remaining, and his arrival seemed to lift England for one final effort. Rooney had a magnificent chip pushed wide by Abbandanzieri, before Owen ghosted in unmarked at the back post to head Gerrard's cross low past the Argentine goalie.

That seemed to have earned a draw that would have been the least that England deserved, but Beckham then had a header brilliantly blocked by Abbandanzieri before Owen stole it in injury-time, meeting Cole's left-wing cross with another fine header.

Eriksson will see work to be done with the defence, but at the final whistle those concerns seemed academic after an exhilarating game.

Figo warns rivals in Seria A

ROME (Reuters) -- Inter Milan midfielder Luis Figo has warned his team's rivals for the Serie A title not to count them out despite their uneven early-season form.

Inter have slipped to fourth in the division on 19 points from 10 matches, eight behind leaders Juventus, after earning just one point in their last two games.

"The championship is decided in the spring, so we've got plenty of time to make up ground and fight for the title right until the end," the former FIFA World Footballer of the Year told the Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday.

"OK, so we've lost three matches, but compared to this stage of last season (when Inter had 14 points) we've got more points, which means we are getting better.

"And there's still plenty of room for improvement, believe me."

On Saturday Inter face a tricky away match against Lazio in Rome. Inter need a win to keep up the pressure on the teams ahead of them, but Lazio have yet to suffer defeat at the Olympic Stadium this season.

"We know perfectly well we face a difficult match. Lazio have put together some great results at home," Figo said.

"We'll give them the respect we give all our adversaries, but we are also sure of our own capabilities."

The Portuguese international is one of the latest arrivals at Inter, having transferred from Real Madrid during the close season.

He is one of group of Real Madrid players, which includes midfielders Esteban Cambiasso and Santiago Solari and defender Walter Samuel, acquired by the club in the past two seasons.

The presence of familiar faces had helped him adapt quickly to life in Italy after 10 years in Spain.

"With Solari and Samuel it is like picking up a conversation that you broke off only the evening before," he said.

"As for Cambiasso, he's a talented young player. All four of us have brought significant experience into an already solid squad and made it even stronger."

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Xavier for UEFA committee hearing

Xavier will appear before a UEFA disciplinary committee hearing next week in a bid to save his career from being ended by a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug

UEFA has confirmed that Xavier will have a personal hearing on November 17 after the B sample from his test confirmed the original finding that he had taken Dianabol, a banned anabolic steroid.

Xavier was suspended last month after failing a drug control at Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup match against Xanthi on September 29.

He has denied knowingly taking a performance enhancing drug and has said he is having tests to try and establish how the substance got into his system.

Xavier, 32, is currently on a one-year contract at Middlesbrough, who would be entitled to dismiss him without compensation should he receive a ban for doping

Match Preview : Portsmouth vs Wigan

Wigan had make history and travelled to their longest journey of the season. They are now on the 2nd of the table with only 9 points behind Chelsea.

Today they will to play a team who have managed to the lift the pressure off themselves with last weeks 4-1 win at Sunderland.

On Wigan side, Paul Jewell will be hoping he can recall Jason Roberts today to team him up with Henri Camera whilst Portsmouth are looking to have Lua Lua back today after a bout of malari and if thats the case I fancy him to run De Zueew and Henchoz ragged. This is just the type of game he will be up for.

With both teams at the opposite end of the table some people will be looking at this as a away win but believe me when I say its nothing of the sort.

Although Wigan are a well organised team but I really still beleives that their fairy tale will end here today at Fratton Park. I am all out to support Portsmouth by giving away the -1/4 handicap.

Latest Result for Champion League

Results from last night Champion League...

Juventus beat Bayern Munich 2-1
Club Brugge beat Rapid Wien 3-2
Lille beat Manchester United 1-0
Benfica lost Villarreal 0-1
Barcelona beat Panathinaikos 5-0
Werder Bremen beat Udinese 4-3
Arsenal beat Sparta 3-0
Thun lost Ajax Amsterdam 2-4

Current situation of each group after last night matches :
- Juventus take the first place on goal difference following a win over main rivals Bayern
Munich, while Club Brugge continue to be a threat thanks to a victory over Rapid Wien.

- Manchester United woe continues while Villarreal recorded narrow victories to keep the group very close with all four teams still very much with hope of reaching the knockout stages

- Barcelona boosted their chances of qualifying as champions of Group C by thrashing Panathinaikos 5-0 at the Camp Nou, while Werder Bremen and Udinese starred in a 9-goal thriller.

- Arsenal defeated Sparta Prague to secure their spot in the second round while Ajax scored two late goals to beat Ajax and maintain their second place in Group B of the Champions League.

Match Preview : Juventus vs Bayern Munich

Coach Capello and the team really wants to revenge the defeat suffered in Munich in CHL (by 1-2) and to vent their anger of the lost match in against Milan (by 1-3) tonight.

In my own view Juventus played well against Milan, but in overall missed out too many chances.

Now knowning the mentality of Juventus this will be a match to win for them, apart the kind or the value of game to be played, Juventus will play only to win.

Tonight the keeper Abbiati will be available again; Chiellini, Cannavaro, Thuram, Zambrotta defenders; Nedved, Vieira, Emerson and Del Piero all line up and ready in the middle zone; Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic in the couple of attack.

On the other hand, Bayern Munchen is continuing its walk in Bundesliga and it was been superb in the first match played in CHL against Juventus, offering a big performance under the profiles of quality and quantity.

Tonight Bayern will miss Santa Cruz, Lahm, Gorlitz, Lizarazu and Hargreaves. Probable line-up tonight: Kahn; Sagnol, Lucio, Ismael, Schweinsteiger; Deisler, Demichelis, Ballack, Zè Roberto; Makaay, Pizarro.

I have all the faith in Juventus tonight. The factor who to field, will not be a decisive factor (also cause the stadium of Juventus was been sold out a few times); more I guess that the players of home side will search to revenge the defeate suffered in Munchen and overall to give a performance of big intensity in european contest.

The home team is giving a -1/2 AsianHandicap tonight and I am all out to support Juventus.

LuaLua on road to recovery

Good news to the fans of Pompey...

Lomana LuaLua has returned to training after his bout of malaria but will not be rushed back to action to help kick-start Portsmouth's season.

The 24-year-old has not played in the Premiership since September 17 and Pompey have since dropped down the table and are a place above the relegation zone.

LuaLua remains their top scorer with just two goals but will not compete for a first-team place until he is confident with his fitness.

'I'm going to take my time and make sure when I come back that I'm fully fit,' he said. 'I'm starting with some light jogging and I'll see how it goes. I don't want to rush anything.

'I saw the specialist at the weekend and he gave me the go-ahead to start light training which I'm happy about because I'm bored sitting at home. My blood levels are getting to be where they need to be and my liver condition is improving.'

Pompey boss Alain Perrin could have LuaLua back against Liverpool at Anfield on November 19, but is also wary of rushing the player.

'He has a lot of strength to build up and we cannot expect a quick return,' Perrin said